Cosmic Scale
Eskimo Nebula
Planetary nebula · About 5,600 light-years
How big is Eskimo Nebula?
Eskimo Nebula is about 1.24 light-years across.
See Eskimo Nebula in 3D, at true scale
The Eskimo Nebula is the glowing gas from a dying Sun-like star, seen face-on. Its bright inner bubble looks like a face, and a ring of comet-shaped streaks looks like a fur hood. Fast winds from the hot central star shaped both parts.
At a glance
| Diameter | 1.24 light-years |
|---|---|
| Diameter compared with Earth | 9.2 × 10⁸ × Earth |
| Distance | About 5,600 light-years |
| Size | About 1.2 light-years across |
| Age | About 10,000 years |
| Also known as | NGC 2392, Clown-faced Nebula |
Good to know
- The "fur" is made of comet-shaped streaks, each many times wider than our Solar System.
- William Herschel discovered it in 1787.
- The inner bubble is a hollow shell of gas we see end-on, like looking down a tube.
- Next smaller: Twin Jet Nebula · 1.20 light-years
- Next larger: Oort Cloud · 3.16 light-years