Kohoutek 3-46, a planetary nebula, was recently captured by the Gemini North telescope. This cosmic butterfly is located 7,200 light-years away in the constellation Cygnus and was shared with the public on July 24, 2024.
The death of massive stars is a violent process, with pressure dropping and gravity taking control as the star burns through its fuel. This can lead to a core collapse and a bright supernova explosion. However, not all stars end their lives this way. Smaller stars, about one to eight times the size of the sun, expand into cool red giant stars as they exhaust their fuel. Eventually, they expel their outer layers of atmosphere, creating beautiful planetary nebulas that glow for thousands of years in vibrant colors and shapes.
Kohoutek 3-46, estimated to be around 20,000 years old, is a unique example of a planetary nebula with a butterfly-like shape. While most planetary nebulas are circular, this one is a bipolar hourglass shape, making up only a small percentage of planetary nebulas. Discovered in 1964 by astronomer Luboš Kohoutek, this object is not related to planets despite its name.
The image of Kohoutek 3-46 was captured by the Gemini North telescope in Hawaii, supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and operated by NSF NOIRLab. This planetary nebula can currently be seen in the Northern Hemisphere’s post-sunset night sky, located in the constellation Cygnus near the famous Ring Nebula in the constellation Lyra.
This stunning cosmic butterfly serves as a reminder of the incredible diversity and beauty present in our universe, offering a glimpse into the life cycle of stars and the wonders of the night sky. As we continue to explore and study the cosmos, discoveries like Kohoutek 3-46 provide valuable insights into the mysteries of space and inspire awe and wonder in all who gaze upon them.
