Abell 36 is a faint barrel shaped planetary nebula located 780 light years from Earth in the constellation of Virgo. It was discovered by the American astronomer George Ogden Abell in 1955. The nebula surrounds a dying sun-like star that is shedding out its outer layers forming Abell 36. The star is evolving towards its white dwarf phase of life. The nebula is estimated to have been formed around 10,000 years ago.
References
External links NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day: Picture of Abell 36 (30 May 2014) ESO Press Release from 22 January 2019