NGC6302 · Bug Nebula
| Chinese name | 虫状星云 |
|---|---|
| Type | Planetary nebula |
| Constellation | Sco |
| RA | 17h13m |
| Dec | −37° |
| Apparent magnitude | 7.1ᵐ |
| Hemisphere | Southern |
| Best season | Summer |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Focal length | 长焦 1500mm+ |
About
The Bug Nebula (also the Butterfly Nebula) lies about 3,400 light-years away in Scorpius and is one of the most complex and spectacular bipolar planetary nebulae known. Its central star is one of the hottest white dwarfs known, with a surface temperature near 250,000 K, hidden behind a dense dust torus that channels the ejected gas into symmetric 「butterfly wings.」 The dying star drives hot gas outward at high speed, the wings spanning over 3 light-years and containing rare mineral dust such as calcite. At magnitude 7.1, it shows stunning detail under high-resolution long-focus imaging. A classic Hubble target, it is a gem of southern summer planetary-nebula photography.