Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Taurus (Tau)  ·  Contains:  NGC 1514  ·  PGC 1916109  ·  PK165-15.1
NGC 1514 Crystal Ball Nebula - RGB, Jerry Macon
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NGC 1514 Crystal Ball Nebula - RGB

NGC 1514 Crystal Ball Nebula - RGB, Jerry Macon
Powered byPixInsight

NGC 1514 Crystal Ball Nebula - RGB

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Description

Processed with synthetic L derived from RGB.

NGC1514 is a planetary nebula that was discovered by William Herschel on November 13, 1790, describing it "A most singular phenomenon" and forcing him to rethink his ideas on the construction of the heavens. Up until this point Herschel was convinced that all nebulae consisted of masses of stars too remote to resolve, but now here was a single star "surrounded with a faintly luminous atmosphere." He went on to conclude "Our judgement I may venture to say, will be, that the nebulosity about the star is not of a starry nature".

It has since been conjectured that the nebula in fact envelops a tightly orbiting double star with a period of up to 10 days. Gas is presumably expanding away from the larger star of the pair.

Located 2,200 light years from Earth.

(Wikipedia)

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NGC 1514 Crystal Ball Nebula - RGB, Jerry Macon

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Planetary Nebulae