Mz 1 (Menzel 1), is a bipolar planetary nebula (PN) in the constellation Norma.

Menzel 1
Emission nebula
Planetary nebula
Observation data: J2000 epoch
Right ascension15h 34m 17.002s[1]
Declination−59° 09′ 09.05″[1]
Distance3,400 ± 500 ly (1,050 ± 150 pc)[2] ly
Apparent magnitude (V)12.0[3]
Apparent dimensions (V)76″[2] × 23″[3]
ConstellationNorma
Physical characteristics
Radius0.63 ± 0.09 ly[a] ly
Absolute magnitude (V)1.9 ± 0.3[b]
DesignationsESO 135-11[1]
See also: Lists of nebulae

Characteristics

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Menzel 1 is a bright planetary nebula that has a prominent central ring of enhanced emission. One model of its structure is a three-dimensional hour-glass shape with a smoothly decreasing density starting from the waist or equator as measured outwardly to the poles. It is radially expanding at a rate of about 23 km/s and estimated to be around 4,500 to 10,000 years old and has its polar axis oriented at an angle of around 40° from the plane of the sky. Its central star is estimated to have a mass of 0.63 ± 0.05 M. In 1992 Schwarz, Corradi, & Melnick published narrow band images of Mz 1 in Hα and [OIII].[4] H2 emission was observed in Mz 1 by Webster, Payne, Storey, Dopita (1988). However, despite its relative brightness, Mz 1 has only been studied in a few papers (Monteiro et al. 2005).

History

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Mz 1 was discovered by Donald Howard Menzel in 1922. (Menzel 1922)

Notes

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  1. ^ 3,400 ± 500[2] ly distance × sin( 76″[2] diameter_angle / 2 ) = 0.63 ± 0.09 ly. radius
  2. ^ 12.0[3] apparent magnitude - 5 * (log10(1,050 ± 150[2] pc distance) - 1) = 1.9 ± 0.3 absolute magnitude
  1. ^ a b c SIMBAD 2007
  2. ^ a b c d e Monteiro et al. 2005
  3. ^ a b c Gottlieb & Wallace 2005
  4. ^ Schwarz, H. E.; Corradi, R. L. M.; Melnick, J. (November 1992). "A catalogue of narrow band images of planetary nebulae". Astronomy and Astrophysics Supplement Series. 93 (1): 23–113. Bibcode:1992A&AS...96...23S.

References

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