NGC 2899 is a planetary nebula in the southern constellation of Vela. It was discovered by English astronomer John Herschel on February 27, 1835.[6] This nebula can be viewed with a moderate-sized amateur telescope, but requires a larger telescope to resolve details.[3] NGC 2899 is located at a distance of 3,350 ± 670 light-years (1,026 ± 205 pc) from the Sun and 25,894 ± 3 light-years (7,939 ± 1 pc) from the Galactic Center.[2]
This nebula has an overall kidney shape that is elongated along an axis from WNW to ESE.[7] The overall topology is bipolar with a significant equatorial structure. This shape is believed to result from a binary star system. The mean expansion rate is 43 to 56 km/s, with high velocity structures expanding at 110 to 130 km/s. The core mass of the central star is estimated as ~1.2 M☉.[4]
The nebula lies within a large cavity in the surrounding medium. This opening has quadrupolar shape with a physical dimension of 14 pc × 11 pc. The elongation lies along a position angle of 37°±5°, which is aligned with the minor axis of the planetary nebula. This opening was most likely crafted by a fast stellar wind coming from the central star during its asymptotic giant branch stage, prior to the formation of a planetary nebula. The shape and filamentary structures suggest the interaction of a binary star system.[8][9]
^ abLopez, J. A.; et al. (January 1991). "The evolved bipolar planetary nebula NGC 2899". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 241: 526. Bibcode:1991A&A...241..526L.
^Weinberger, R.; Aryal, B. (July 2004). Meixner, Margaret; et al. (eds.). Huge Dust Structures and Cavities Around PNe: NGC 6826 and NGC 2899. Asymmetrical Planetary Nebulae III: Winds, Structure and the Thunderbird, Proceedings of the conference held 28 July - 1 August 2003 at Mt. Rainer, Washington, USA. ASP Conference Proceedings. Vol. 313. San Francisco: Astronomical Society of the Pacific. p. 112. Bibcode:2004ASPC..313..112W.
