Blue Ring Nebula
| Nebula | |
|---|---|
 Composite image of the Blue Ring Nebula. | |
| Observation data: J2000[1] epoch | |
| Right ascension | 16h 48m 37.41s |
| Declination | +35° 12' 09.44" |
| Distance | 6,300 ly |
| Constellation | Hercules |
The Blue Ring Nebula is a cosmic object located approximately 6,300 light years away in the constellation Hercules.[2] It was formed when two stars merged, creating a debris cloud that eventually cooled down and produced hydrogen molecules that collided with the interstellar medium. The collisions made the molecules radiate far-ultraviolet light, allowing GALEX to discover the object in 2004.[3] The merging of the two stars resulted into a new star designated as TYC 2597-735-1.[4][5]
References
[edit source]- ↑ "TYC 2597-735-1". SIMBAD. CDS. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
- ↑ "Blue Ring Nebula". GALEX. Caltech. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
- ↑ "The Blue Ring Nebula". NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. NASA. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
- ↑ "X-Ray Emission from Candidate Stellar Merger Remnant TYC 2597-735-1 and Its Blue Ring Nebula". The Astronomical Journal. 163 (4): 173. April 2022. doi:10.3847/1538-3881/ac54a2. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link) - ↑ "The dazzling Blue Ring Nebula puzzled scientists for 16 years — and now they finally understand why". Space.com. Future plc. 18 November 2020. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
