Information

NGC 6751, also known as the Glowing Eye Nebula, is a planetary nebula in the constellation Aquila. The nebula is estimated to be around 0.8 light-years in diameter. The star at the centre of the nebula has a surface temperature of approximately 140,000 K. It has been calculated to be roughly 6,500 light-years away from Earth. It was formed when a star collapsed and threw off its outer layer of gas several thousand years ago.

The nebula was the subject of the winning picture in the 2009 Gemini School Astronomy Contest, in which Australian high school students competed to select an astronomical target to be imaged by Gemini.

Numbers

Distance: 6,500 light years

Radius: 0.4 light years

Mass: Unknown

Consists of: Mainly H2.