NGC 246

NGC 246 is the designation for a planetary nebula in the constellation Cetus.

Properties

NGC 246 is about 2,000 light- years away and has an angular extent of 4.0 '× 3.5 '. The absolute brightness is 11.78 like its apparent brightness at 10.9 mag. The fog is formed by a lying in its center star in the final stage of its development, repels its outer shell. The central star is increas .. become a hot white dwarf star

Discovery and name

The planetary nebula NGC 246 was discovered on 27 November 1785 by the German - British astronomer William Herschel. In the English -speaking world, the object according to gross similarity also the trivial name "skull nebula ".