The Eskimo Nebula (NGC 2392), also known as the
Clownface Nebula, is a bipolar double-shell planetary
nebula (PN).@ It was discovered by astronomer
William Herschel in 1787. The formation resembles a
person's head surrounded by a parka hood. It is
surrounded by gas that composed the outer layers of a
Sun-like star. The visible inner filaments are ejected
by a strong wind of particles from the central star. The
outer disk contains unusual light-year long orange
filaments.
NGC 2392 lies more than 2,870 light-years away and
is visible with a small telescope in the constellation of
Gemini
The nebula was discovered by William Herschel on
January 17, 1787, in Slough, England. He described it as "A star of 9th magnitude with a pretty
bright middle, nebulosity equally dispersed all around. A very remarkable phenomenon. NGC
2392 WH IV-45 is included in the Astronomical League’s Herschel 400 observing programme.

Article researched by local astronomer Dave Robinson.

This image was taken on the 10th March 2010 with a Canon 40D and 102ED Refractor at F/5.6.....20 seperate images, 300 seconds @ ISO 400..Dark subtraction was applied. Taken in Nebulosity, alligned and stacked. Digital Development in Images Plus and Levels and Curves in Photoshop......The image is magnified to 100%....Copyright K.Grice..2010