Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Taurus (Tau)  ·  Contains:  NGC 1514  ·  PK165-15.1
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NGC 1514 - Crystal Ball Planetary Nebula, Eddie Bagwell
NGC 1514 - Crystal Ball Planetary Nebula, Eddie Bagwell

NGC 1514 - Crystal Ball Planetary Nebula

Getting plate-solving status, please wait...
NGC 1514 - Crystal Ball Planetary Nebula, Eddie Bagwell
NGC 1514 - Crystal Ball Planetary Nebula, Eddie Bagwell

NGC 1514 - Crystal Ball Planetary Nebula

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Description

The Crystal Ball Nebula (NGC 1514) is a planetary nebula located in the constellation Taurus, near the border with Perseus. It has an apparent magnitude of 9.43 and lies at an approximate distance of 2,200 light years from Earth. It occupies an area of 2.2 arc minutes.

It was discovered in November 1790 by William Herschel, the astronomer who had previously coined the term “planetary nebulae” to describe similar deep sky objects with circular shapes resembling those of planets. Before the discovery of NGC 1514, Herschel had believed that nebulae were really densely grouped stars too distant to be resolved in a telescope. NGC 1514 made him rethink his beliefs. He described the nebula as a “most singular phenomenon,” noting that “the nebulosity about the star is not of a starry nature.”

Check out the mouseover for a close-up of the Crystall Ball.

Thanks, Eddie

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