Kronberger 61

Kronberger 61, also known as the "soccer ball", is a planetary nebula discovered by an amateur astronomer in January, 2011, with the newer images having been taken by the Gemini Observatory.^[2] The nebula is named for Austrian Mattias Kronberger,^[3] who is a member of the amateur group Deep Sky Hunters. The object is estimated to lie 13,000 light-years away. They discovered the nebula while searching near the northern constellation of Cygnus.^[4] It is hoped that the discovery will help resolve a decades-old debate, regarding the role of stellar companions in the formation and structure of planetary nebulae.^[5]

Kronberger 61

Emission nebula
Planetary nebula
Image of the Kronberger 61 nebula taken by the Gemini Observatory
Observation data: J2000 epoch
Right ascension	19h 21m 38.936s[1]
Declination	+38° 18′ 57.2420″[1]
Apparent dimensions (V)	1' 30"
Constellation	Cygnus
Designations	Kronberger 61, Soccer Ball Nebula[1]
See also: Lists of nebulae

The nebula is within a relatively small area, which is currently being monitored by NASA's Kepler planet finding mission and the light of the nebula is primarily due to the emissions from doubly ionized oxygen.^[5]

See also

• IRAS 19475+3119, protoplanetary nebula of Cygnus
• List of largest nebulae

References

1. "NAME Soccer Ball Nebula". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
2. Mosher, Dave. "'Soccer Ball' Nebula Discovered by Amateur Astronomer". National Geographic. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012.
3. "Österreichischer Hobby-Astronom entdeckt prachtvollen Planetarischen Nebel". DER STANDARD (in Austrian German). Retrieved 2023-06-14.
4. Moore, Kurt (July 28, 2011). "New Planetary Nebula Found By Amateur Astronomer". KRIV (TV). Archived from the original on April 5, 2012.
5. Jacoby, George (8 August 2011). "Gemini Observatory Image Release". Gemini Observatory.