An infrared Spitzer Space Telescope image of NGC 246. Credit: NASA/JPL.
Observation data: J2000 epoch
Right ascension
00h 47m 03.338s[1]
Declination
−11° 52′ 18.94″[1]
Distance
1,600 ly
Apparent magnitude (V)
8[2] / 11.8 (central star)[1]
Apparent dimensions (V)
3.8′[2]
Constellation
Cetus
Physical characteristics
Radius
2-3[3] ly
Designations
Skull Nebula,[4] Pac-Man Nebula,[5] Caldwell 56, HIP 3678, PMN J0047-1152, 2E 178, PN VV 4, IRAS 00445-1207, MCT 0044-1208[1]
See also: Lists of nebulae
NGC 246 (also known as the Skull Nebula[4] or Caldwell 56) is a planetary nebula in the constellation Cetus. It is the first known planetary nebula to have a hierarchical triple star system at its center.[6] The nebula and the stars associated with it are listed in several catalogs, as summarized by the SIMBAD database.[1] NGC 246 was discovered by William Herschel in 1785.
The nebula is roughly 1,600 light-years away.[7] NGC 246's central star is the 12th magnitude[7] white dwarf HIP 3678 A.[8]
NGC 246 is not to be confused with the Rosette Nebula (NGC 2337), which is also referred to as the "Skull."[9] Among some amateur astronomers, NGC 246 is known as the "Pac-Man Nebula" because of the arrangement of its central stars and the surrounding star field.[5]
^ abcde"NGC 246". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved 2006-12-22.
^ ab"SEDS NGC Catalog Online". Results for NGC 246. Retrieved 2010-11-29.
^ abDavid H. Levy, Deep Sky Objects, Prometheus Books, 2005, ISBN 1-59102-361-0, p 129.
^information@eso.org. "Stars and Skulls: new ESO image reveals eerie nebula". www.eso.org. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
^ abStephen James O'Meara, The Caldwell Objects, Sky Publishing Corporation, ISBN 0-933346-97-2, p 223.
^Adam, C.; Mugrauer, M. (2014-11-01). "HIP 3678: a hierarchical triple stellar system in the centre of the planetary nebula NGC 246". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 444 (4): 3459–3465. arXiv:1409.5339. Bibcode:2014MNRAS.444.3459A. doi:10.1093/mnras/stu1677. ISSN 0035-8711.
^"A hole in the heart of the Rosette Nebula". CNN. 14 February 2018.
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