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David

Darling

Red Spider Nebula (NGC 6537)

Red Spider Nebula (NGC 6537)

The Red Spider Nebula (NGC 6537) is a bipolar planetary nebula in the constellation Sagittarius. It is centered on one of the hottest white dwarfs ever observed, probably a member of a binary system. Stellar winds have been measured blowing from the central stars at over 300 kilometers per second. These hot winds expand the nebula, flow along the nebula's walls, and cause gas and dust to collide. The image shown here was taken by the Hubble Space Telescope. Compare with the Bug Nebula.

 

visual magnitude 13
apparent diameter 1.5'
distance ~1,900 light-years (580 pc)
position RA 18h 05m 13.1s,
Dec -19° 50' 34.9"
other designations HD 312582, GCRV 10524,
PK 010+00 1, PN ARO 52,
PN G010.1+00.7