Eskimo Nebula



The Eskimo Nebula (which is also known as NGC 2392) is a 
planetary nebula some 5000 light years distant toward 
the constellation Gemini. Planetary nebulae have nothing 
to do with planets but rather are spherical shells of 
gas cast off by aging giant stars late in life. The 
shells look like rings because they are seen in 
projection. The Eskimo Nebula was discovered by the 
English astronomer William Herschel in 1787 and is named 
because it resembles a face surrounded by a fur parka 
when viewed through small telescopes. In this image, 
violet represents very hot helium, blue represents 
oxygen, green represents hydrogen, and red represents 
nitrogen. The hot central star that produced and powers 
the nebula is visible at the very center of the image.