IC 1266
Planetary nebula where fullerenes C60 and C70 were first found.
IC 1266, also called Tc 1 or Thackeray 1, is a planetary nebula in the southern constellation Ara. It was discovered in 1894 by astronomer Williamina Fleming and sits about 12,400 light-years away, best viewed from the Southern Hemisphere. With an apparent visual magnitude of 11.2 and a diameter of roughly 0.2 arcminutes, it ranks among the smaller known planetary nebulae. Its central star, HD 161044, is an O-type star with a P Cygni profile. Spectroscopic studies show low-excitation lines typical of young planetary nebulae. In 2010, the Spitzer Space Telescope detected the first fullerenes ever found in space—C60 and C70—within IC 1266, making these molecules the largest known in space. Hydrogenated amorphous carbon grains are thought to produce infrared emission features in the nebula, possibly linked to fullerene formation. For amateur astronomers, guidestars HD 160715 and HD 160917 (both magnitude +7) lie immediately west-northwest of IC 1266, while the star Sigma Arae is about 2 degrees west-southwest. The nebula sits half a degree south of the boundary between Ara and Scorpius, as defined by Eugène Joseph Delporte.
- Designations
- IC 1266, Tc 1, Thackeray 1
- Constellation
- Ara
- Discovered by
- Williamina Fleming
- Discovery year
- 1894
- Distance from earth
- approximately 12,400 light-years
- Apparent visual magnitude
- 11.2
- Angular diameter
- about 0.2 arcminutes
Lore & Background
IC 1266 was discovered in 1894 by astronomer Williamina Fleming. It lies approximately 12,400 light-years from Earth and is best observed from the Southern Hemisphere. The nebula has an apparent visual magnitude of 11.2 and spans about 0.2 arcminutes in diameter, making it one of the smaller known planetary nebulae. Its central star is an O-type star HD 161044, which exhibits a P Cygni type profile. Spectroscopic and other studies reveal low-excitation lines typical of young planetary nebulae. In 2010, using the Spitzer Space Telescope, the first fullerenes in space—C60 and C70—were discovered in this nebula, making them the largest molecules found in space. Hydrogenated amorphous carbon grains were suggested to cause emission features in the infrared in IC 1266, and these grains may be related to the formation of the fullerenes.
Reader's Guide
IC 1266 holds a significant place in astrophysics as the site where the first fullerenes in space—C60 and C70—were discovered in 2010 using the Spitzer Space Telescope. These molecules are the largest found in space, marking a milestone in the study of cosmic chemistry. The nebula's low-excitation lines indicate it is a young planetary nebula, and its central star, HD 161044, is an O-type star with a P Cygni profile. The presence of hydrogenated amorphous carbon grains, suggested to cause infrared emission features, may be linked to the formation of these fullerenes. For amateur astronomers, IC 1266 can be located using guidestars HD 160715 and HD 160917, both of magnitude +7, situated immediately westnorthwest of the nebula. Sigma Arae lies less than 2 degrees westsouthwest, and the nebula is half a degree south of the boundary between Ara and Scorpius. Its discovery by Williamina Fleming in 1894 adds historical depth, and its small angular diameter of about 0.2 arcminutes makes it a challenging but rewarding target for Southern Hemisphere observers.
Did You Know?
- The central star of IC 1266 is an O-type star HD 161044 with a P Cygni type profile.
- IC 1266 is located half a degree south of the boundary between the constellations Ara and Scorpius.
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