IC 418
| Emission nebula | |
|---|---|
| Planetary nebula | |
A false color image of IC 418 (the spirograph nebula). | |
| Observation data: J2000 epoch | |
| Right ascension | 05h 27m 28.2037s |
| Declination | −12° 41′ 50.265″ |
| Distance | 3.6 ± 1.0 kly (1100 ± 300 pc) ly |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 9.6 |
| Apparent dimensions (V) | 3.5″ x 5.5″ / 11″ x 14″ / 150″ / 220″ x 250″ |
| Constellation | Lepus |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Radius | 0.15 ly |
| Absolute magnitude (V) | - |
| Notable features | - |
| Designations | Spirograph Nebula |
IC 418, also known as the Spirograph Nebula, is a bright planetary nebula located in the constellation of Lepus about 3,600 ly away from Earth. It spans 0.3 light-years across. The central star of the planetary nebula, HD 35914, is an O-type star with a spectral type of O7fp. The nebula formed a few thousand years ago during the star's last stages of its red giant phase. Material from the star's outer layers was ejected from the star into the surrounding space. The nebula's glow is caused by the central star's ultraviolet radiation interacting with the gas.