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> The emission nebula NGC 6164-65
The emission nebula NGC 6164-65
author: Anglo-Australian Observatory/David Malin Images/Novapix
reference: a-neb61-64002
Image Size 300 DPI: 40 * 51 cm
Superficially similar to a planetary nebula, NGC 6164-5 is in reality a rather unusual object associated with a rather unusual star. The vivid blue central star, known only as HD 148937, is the brightest member of a triple system of stars in orbit around each other. This extremely hot star is loosing mass from its outer layers continuously, but occasionally more vigorous outbursts give rise to the symmetrical shells seen in this picture. The two catalogue numbers, NGC 6164 and 6165, refer to these shells as separate objects.
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