The Eskimo Nebula
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		Common Name: The Eskimo Nebula Other Names: NGC 2392, Clown Nebula, Clown face Nebula RA: 7:29.2 Dec +20: 55 Constellation Gemini Distance: 3000 light years Magnitude: 9.1 Telescope: Meade LX200GPS 14" Camera: SBig ST-8 Filters: RGB Exposure: 100 x 15 seconds per filter CCD Temperature: -20 degrees C. Date: 9th February 2008 Where: Warrumbungle Observatory, Coonabarabran Lat: 31 16 35.05 S, Long 149 11 33.99 E, Elevation 547 metres Notes: The Eskimo is a planetary nebula in the constellation Gemini Discovered by William Hershell in 1787. Planetary Nebulae are the ultimate fate of most stars in the universe. When stars of 1.4 solar masses or smaller exhaust there supplies of helium as thermonuclear fuel, gravity ultimately takes over and the core of the star shrinks to about the size of the Earth. This object is called a white dwarf. The outer tenuous layers of the star expand outwards formimg the nebula. The colours are due to oxygen and nitrogen formed within the star. The spindle shape of these nebulae maybe caused by the magnetic fields from the star.