| Emission nebula | |
|---|---|
| Planetary nebula | |
| |
| Observation data: J2000 epoch | |
| Right ascension | 15h16m 49.95679s[1] |
| Declination | −45° 38′ 58.6109″[1] |
| Distance | 7.7 kly (2.4 kpc)[2] ly |
| Apparent dimensions (V) | 13–14″[3] |
| Constellation | Lupus |
| Designations | ESO 274-7, IC 1168,[4] NGC 5882[5] |
| See also: Lists of nebulae | |
NGC 5882 is a small[4] planetary nebula[3] in the southern constellationofLupus, positioned about 1.5° to the southwest of the star Epsilon Lupi.[6] It was discovered by English astronomer John Herschel on July 2, 1834 from the Cape of Good Hope observatory.[4] John L. E. Dreyer described it as "very small, round, quite sharp".[7] It is located at a distance of approximately 7.7 kilolight-years from the Sun.[2]
This nebular region consists of the cast-off outer atmosphere of an aging star. It is roughly elliptical in shape with several clumps of ionized material, and is surrounded by a larger region of low-level emission that extends for three times the nominal diameter of the main nebula.[3] The nebula is expanding with an average velocity of 12.5 km/s. It consists of two shells: the inner shell is elliptical and measures 11″ × 6″, while the more rapidly expanding outer shell is rounder with a diameter of 15″. The inner shell has what appears to be multiple bubble-like shapes. The clumps in the outer shell may be the result of instabilities.[8]
The elemental abundances of the nebula are very similar to those in the Sun, except for a times two enrichment of nitrogen. The latter suggests that the central star did not go through second dredge-up. The central star has an apparent visual magnitude of 13.43. It shines with 830 times the luminosity of the Sun and has 22.7% of the Sun's radius.[3] It is displaced slightly from the center of symmetry for the nebula.[8]
Media related to NGC 5882 at Wikimedia Commons
