What is NGC 6302?
[[File:NGC_6302_Hubble_2009.full.jpg|thumb|[[Hubble Space Telescope|Hubble]] image]] '''NGC 6302''', also known as the '''bug nebula''' or the '''butterfly nebula''', is a [[planetary nebula]] in the [[constellation]] of [[Scorpius (constellation)|Scorpius]]. It is about 3.4 thousand [[light-year]]s away from [[Earth]]. The spectrum of NGC 6302 shows that its central star is one of the hottest stars in the galaxy. Its surface temperature is over 250,000 degrees [[Celsius]]. This means the star from which it formed must have been very large. The central star, a [[white dwarf]], was only recently discovered by the upgraded [[Wide Field Camera 3]] on board the [[Hubble Space Telescope]].<ref>Szyszka C. ''et al'' 2009, Detection of the central star of the planetary nebula NGC 6302. ''Astrophysical Journal Letters'', '''707''': L32–L36, arXiv:0909.5143, Bibcode:2009ApJ...707L..32S, [[doi: iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0004-637X/707/1/L32/meta]] </ref> The star now has a mass of about 0.64 solar masses. It is surrounded by a dense disc of gas and dust. This dense disc may have caused the star's outflows to form a bipolar structure like an [[hour-glass]]. This bipolar structure shows many interesting features seen in planetary nebulae such as ionization walls, knots and sharp edges to the lobes. == References == {{reflist}} {{Gum catalogue}} [[Category:Nebulae]]