N11 (emission nebula)

N11
Emission nebula
superbubble[citation needed]
An annotated image of N11. Image is from the legacy surveys
Observation data: J2000.0 epoch
Right ascension04h 56m 46.2s[1]
Declination−66° 28′ 27″[1]
Distance160,000[2] ly
ConstellationDorado
Physical characteristics
Radius500[3] ly
DesignationsLMC N11, LHA 120-N 11, Bean Nebula
See also: Lists of nebulae
Large Magellanic Cloud with N11 at top left (forming the northwest corner)

N11 (also known as LMC N11, LHA 120-N 11) is the brightest emission nebula in the north-west part of the Large Magellanic Cloud in the Dorado constellation.[4] The N11 complex is the second largest H II region of that galaxy, the largest being the Tarantula Nebula. It covers an area approximately 6 arc minutes across.[5] It has an elliptical shape and consists of a large bubble, generally clear interstellar area, surrounded by nine large nebulae.[6] It was named by Karl Henize in 1956.[7]

When close-up, the nebula has pink clouds of glowing gas which resembles candy floss.[7] It has been well studied over the years and extends 1,000 light-years across.[citation needed]

Its particularly notable features include a huge cavity measuring 80 by 60 pc and a five million year old central cluster (NGC 1761). It is surrounded by several ionized clouds where young O stars are forming.[8][9] Several massive stars are within it, including LH 9, LH 10, LH 13, LH 14. It includes a supernova remnant N11L.[10] In the very centre of NGC 1761 is a bright multiple star HD 32228 which contains a rare blue Wolf-Rayet star, type WC5 or WC6, and an O-type bright giant.[11]

  1. ^ a b "NED results for object LMC:N011". NED. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  2. ^ "A Cauldron of Newborn Stars". Sky and Telescope. 23 July 2010. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  3. ^ Cavagnaro, Leo. "The Observation of the Second Largest HII Region in the Large Magellanic Cloud". The Extragalactic HII Region N11 and Its Surrounding Field. Archived from the original on 11 November 2017.
  4. ^ "N11 complex in LMC". astronomy and observation. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  5. ^ "Hubble view of the huge star formation region N11 in the Large Magellanic Cloud". Space Telescope. 22 June 2010. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  6. ^ Rosado, M.; Laval, A.; Le Coarer, E.; Georgelin Y., P.; Amram, P.; Marcelin, M.; Goldes, G.; Gach J., L. (1996). "Formation of the nebular complex N11 in the Large Magellanic Cloud". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 308: 588. Bibcode:1996A&A...308..588R.
  7. ^ a b "Hubble captures bubbles and baby stars". Space Telescope. 22 June 2010. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  8. ^ Nowajewsky, P.; Rubio, M. (2006). "IR Study of N11 in the LMC". Revista Mexicana de Astronomía y Astrofísica, Serie de Conferencias. 26: 162. Bibcode:2006RMxAC..26..162N.
  9. ^ Nowajewsky, P.; Rubio, M.; Barbá, R. (2006). "IR Study of N11 in the LMC". Harvard. 26. Bibcode:2006RMxAC..26..162N.
  10. ^ Naze, Y; Antokhin, I. I; Rauw, G; Chu, Y. -H; Vreux, J. -M; Vreux, J.-M (2004). "XMM-Newton observations of the giant HII region N11 in the LMC". Astronomy & Astrophysics. 418 (3): 841. arXiv:astro-ph/0402623. doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20035633. S2CID 17722653.
  11. ^ "Harry Observes the N11 complex in the LMC". MAAS. 16 November 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2017.