Archived from: http://www.noao.edu/jacoby/abell_78.html

Planetary Nebula Sampler


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Abell 78

This planetary nebula has the unusual property of having a faint outer halo composed of normal stellar material (mostly hydrogen) and a bright inner elliptical ring composed mostly of helium. The helium ring provides direct confirmation that hydrogen is being converted to helium in the centers of stars and can later be ejected back into the galaxy's pool of gas for building another generation of enriched stars.

Shape: bright central zones and faint extended outer halo.

Distance: 5,500 ly

Location: Cygnus constellation

RA: 00 40 33.00 DEC: +26 44 30.0

Size: 1.8 arc min (about 2.7 ly)

Abundances/Description: The outer halo is composed mostly of Hydrogen. The bright inner elliptical ring is composed mostly of Helium.

Discoverer: George Abell - (1966)

Author: George Jacoby
Planetary Nebula Sampler


Curator: Hartmut Frommert [contact]
[Planetary Nebulae index] [SEDS]