| Emission nebula | |
|---|---|
| Planetary nebula | |
legacy surveys image | |
| Observation data: J2000 epoch | |
| Right ascension | 6h 34m 7.4s |
| Declination | +44° 46′ 40″ |
| Distance | 6,500 ly |
| Constellation | Auriga constellation |
| Designations | PK 170+15 1, ZWG 204.5, IRAS 06304+4448, IRAS F06304+4448 |
NGC 2242 is a planetary nebula in the constellation Auriga. It was discovered by Lewis A. Swift on November 24, 1886, [1] and was thought to be a galaxy until a study published in 1987 showed it to be a planetary nebula. [2] The nebula is located about 6,500 light-years away, and about 1,600 light-years above the galactic plane. [3]
The central star of the planetary nebula is an O-type star with a spectral type of O(H). [4]