NGC 2242

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]

NGC 2242

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
See also: Lists of nebulae

The central star of the planetary nebula is an O-type star with a spectral type of O(H).^[4]