Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Draco (Dra)  ·  Contains:  HD164963  ·  IC 4677  ·  NGC 6552
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NGC 6543 - The Cat's Eye Nebula, Indy Backyard Astro
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NGC 6543 - The Cat's Eye Nebula

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NGC 6543 - The Cat's Eye Nebula, Indy Backyard Astro
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NGC 6543 - The Cat's Eye Nebula

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Description

NGC 6543, commonly known as the Cat's Eye Nebula, is a striking example of a planetary nebula located in the constellation of Draco, approximately 3,000 light-years away from Earth. Despite its name, it has nothing to do with felines but is named after its resemblance to the glowing eye of a cat when viewed through a telescope.This nebula is formed from the outer layers of a dying star that has reached the end of its life cycle. Once a star similar in size to our Sun exhausts its nuclear fuel, it undergoes a series of transformations before ultimately shedding its outer layers and leaving behind a hot, dense core known as a white dwarf. The expelled layers form a colorful shell of gas and dust, creating the mesmerizing structure we observe as the Cat's Eye Nebula.One of the most distinctive features of NGC 6543 is its intricate and symmetrical appearance. It boasts concentric rings of gas expanding outward from the central star, giving it the appearance of a cosmic bullseye. The central star itself is exceptionally hot, with temperatures reaching up to 100,000 degrees Celsius (180,000 degrees Fahrenheit).

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NGC 6543 - The Cat's Eye Nebula, Indy Backyard Astro