Cosmic Scale
Twin Jet Nebula
Planetary nebula · About 2,100 light-years
How big is Twin Jet Nebula?
Twin Jet Nebula is about 1.20 light-years across.
See Twin Jet Nebula in 3D, at true scale
The Twin Jet Nebula is a cloud thrown off by a dying star with a white dwarf partner. As the two stars circle each other, their pull shapes the gas into two long wings. Jets of gas shoot out of the centre faster than a million km per hour.
At a glance
| Diameter | 1.20 light-years |
|---|---|
| Diameter compared with Earth | 8.9 × 10⁸ × Earth |
| Distance | About 2,100 light-years |
| Size | About 1.2 light-years tip to tip |
| Age | About 1,200 years |
| Also known as | M2-9, Minkowski's Butterfly |
Good to know
- Its two central stars orbit each other about once every 100 years.
- Its wings formed only about 1,200 years ago, very young for a nebula.
- Its jets slowly wobble in direction, like a spinning top, so the wings look twisted.
- Next smaller: Oyster Nebula · 1.14 light-years
- Next larger: Eskimo Nebula · 1.24 light-years