| IRAS 19024+0044 | |
| Epoch: | J2000 |
| Ra: | 19h 05m 02s |
| Dec: | +00° 48′ 50.9″ |
| Constellation: | Aquila |
| Dist Ly: | ~11,000 ly |
| Subtype: | Protoplanetary nebula |
IRAS 19024+0044, also known informally as the Starfish Nebula[1], is a large protoplanetary nebula that is located in the constellation Aquila at a distance of approximately 11,000 light-years from the Milky Way.[2] [3]
The central star of the nebula is approaching the final stage of its evolution. It is surrounded by a cloud of gas and dust resembling a starfish. The nebula is characterized by five blue bubbles that extend from the central star, giving the nebula an asymmetric shape. Its blue color comes from the blue component of the star's spectrum, which is more easily scattered by the nebula's gas and dust than the red and orange colors, which remain relatively intact.
The nebula was also directly imaged by the Hubble Space Telescope, and was selected as ESA/HUBBLE's Picture of the Week starting September 5, 2011.[4]