Nebula Kohoutek 3-46: A ‘Butterfly’ from Death’s Door | Gemini North Telescope

Nebula Kohoutek 3-46: A ‘Butterfly’ from Death’s Door | Gemini North Telescope

This ghostly, butterfly-shaped planetary nebula, captured by the Gemini North telescope, one half of the International Gemini Observatory, supported in part by the U.S. National Science Foundation and operated by NOIRLab, is known as Kohoutek 3-46. Kohoutek 3-46 derives its name from the prolific planetary nebula hunter that discovered it, Czech astronomer Luboš Kohoutek. 

Located in the constellation Cygnus, Kohoutek 3-46 is estimated to be around 20,000 years old and around 7,200 light-years away. The term ‘planetary nebula’ is a misnomer, since these nebulae are unrelated to planets. The term originates from their planet-like round shape. Kohoutek 3-46 has expanded into an unusual bipolar shape, classified by its well-defined hourglass shape, prominent equatorial ring and marked waist. About 10–20% of planetary nebulae are bipolar. No matter the shape they take on, these glowing clouds of gas form after a star of one to eight times the mass of the Sun has expanded into a red giant. As the core of the red giant contracts, the star expels layers of its atmosphere into space. Energetic ultraviolet radiation from the hot, exposed core then ionizes this gaseous shell around it, ‘illuminating’ the planetary nebula.

Since 2002, Gemini North has also been known as the Frederick C. Gillett Gemini North telescope. Dr. Gillett, who died in April 2001, was one of the primary visionaries of the Gemini telescopes. He was instrumental in assuring that the design of Gemini's twin 8-meter telescopes would make major scientific contributions to astronomy.

Learn more about Gemini North here: https://www.gemini.edu

Credit: International Gemini Observatory / NOIRLab / NSF / AURA

Image Processing: J. Miller (International Gemini Observatory/NSF’s NOIRLab), M. Rodriguez (International Gemini Observatory/NSF’s NOIRLab) & M. Zamani (NSF’s NOIRLab)

Release Date: July 24, 2024

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