NGC 2899

NGC 2899 is a planetary nebula in the southern constellation of Vela. It was discovered by English astronomer John Herschel on February 27, 1835. This nebula can be viewed with a moderate-sized amateur telescope, but requires a larger telescope to resolve details. NGC 2899 is located at a distance of from the Sun and from the Galactic Center.
This nebula has an overall kidney shape that is elongated along an axis from WNW to ESE. 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, with high velocity structures expanding at. The core mass of the central star is estimated as.
The nebula lies within a large cavity in the surrounding medium. This opening has quadrupolar shape with a physical dimension of. The elongation lies along a position angle of, 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.