Abell 31 Explained

Abell 31 (also known as Sh2-290 or PK 219+31.1^[1]) is an ancient planetary nebula in the constellation of Cancer. It is estimated to be about 2,000 light years away. Although it is one of the largest planetary nebulae in the sky, it is not very bright. The central star of the planetary nebula is a white dwarf with a spectral type of DAO.^[2] The white dwarf is the dead remains of a star that existed but had died leaving behind Abell 31 and the white dwarf.^[3]

Abell 31 is made mostly of hydrogen and oxygen gas with the red gas signifying hydrogen gas and the blue gas signifying the oxygen gas. The nebula has a blue central region being most of the nebula and a red ring around this blue region. The nebula due to its ancient age has its gas being dispersed into the interstellar medium.^[4]

Some of the astronomical objects that exist around this nebula from our perspective include the Beehive Cluster (a cluster of about 1000 stars^[5]), IC 523 (a galaxy), NGC 2731 (a spiral galaxy), M 67 star cluster (an old cluster of stars sometimes known as the King cobra cluster^[6]) and many more.^[7]

References

• http://www.astronomy-mall.com/Adventures.In.Deep.Space/abellcat.htm
• http://observing.skyhound.com/archives/feb/PNG_219.1+31.2.html
• https://web.archive.org/web/20140222225156/http://www.astrosurf.com/zoll/images/abell31
• http://www.annesastronomynews.com/photo-gallery-ii/nebulae-clouds/abell-31-by-adam-block/

External links

• http://www.space.com/14747-abell31-nebula-photo-skywatching.html

Notes and References

1. Web site: Ford . Dominic . Abell 31 (Planetary nebula) . 2023-10-27 . In-The-Sky.org . en.
2. 10.1051/0004-6361/202141916. Planetary nebulae in Gaia EDR3: Central star identification, properties, and binarity. 2021. González-Santamaría. I.. Manteiga. M.. Manchado. A.. Ulla. A.. Dafonte. C.. López Varela. P.. Astronomy & Astrophysics. 656. A51. 2109.12114. 2021A&A...656A..51G. 237940344.
3. Web site: Nina Sen . 2012-03-22 . Gift of a Dying Star: Skywatcher Snaps Spectacular Nebula Abell 31 Photo . 2023-10-27 . Space.com . en.
4. Web site: 2013-05-03 . Abell 31, a planetary nebula in Cancer . 2023-10-27 . Anne's Astronomy News . nl-NL.
5. Web site: 2023-03-15 . The Beehive cluster: A swarm of 1,000 stars . 2023-10-27 . earthsky.org . en-US.
6. Web site: admin . 2015-07-14 . Messier 67: King Cobra Cluster . 2023-10-27 . Messier Objects . en-US.
7. Web site: Rojas . Sebastián García . Planetary nebula Abell 31 - Planetary Nebula in Cancer Constellation . 2023-10-27 . Telescopius . en.