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K1-2 is a planetary nebula in the constellation Pyxis. It was discovered by Czech astronomer Luboš Kohoutek in 1961. The central star of the nebula—VW Pyxidis—is a post-common-envelope binary composed of a hot degenerate star and a cooler companion in a close orbit. A best-fit calculation from its orbit and spectra yields a white dwarf-like star with around 50% of the Sun's mass and a main sequence lie star around 70% as massive as the Sun. Jets of matter are emanating from the system. One study yielded a surface temperature of 85,000 K for the hotter star.

References

1. Kohoutek, Luboš (1962). "New planetary nebulae". Bulletin of the Astronomical Institute of Czechoslovakia. 13: 120. Bibcode:1962BAICz..13..120K.
2. Exter, K. M.; Pollacco, D. L.; Bell, S. A. (2003). "The planetary nebula K 1-2 and its binary central star VW Pyx". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 341 (4): 1349–59. Bibcode:2003MNRAS.341.1349E. doi:10.1046/j.1365-8711.2003.06505.x.

v t e Constellation of Pyxis
List of stars in Pyxis Pyxis in Chinese astronomy
Stars	Bayer α β γ δ ε ζ η θ κ λ Variable T RZ TY UZ VW VY WX XX AK CS HR 3384 3597 HD 73267 77338 Other Gliese 317 Gliese 318
Exoplanets Gliese 317 b HD 73256 b HD 73267 b
Star clusters NGC 2627 Pyxis globular cluster
Nebulae K 1-2 NGC 2818
Galaxies	NGC 2613 2663 Other Hen 2-10
Category

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