Lesson plan
Red Rectangle
The Red Rectangle, so called because of its red color and unique rectangular shape, is a protoplanetary nebula in the Monoceros constellation. The nebula was discovered in 1973 during a rocket flight associated with the AFCRL Infrared Sky Survey called Hi Star. The binary star at the center of the nebula, designated HD 44179, was first discovered by Robert Grant Aitken in 1915. It has the variable star designation V777 Monocerotis. The name Red Rectangle was officially added to the IAU Catalog of Star Names on 9 May 2026.
Article summary
The Red Rectangle, so called because of its red color and unique rectangular shape, is a protoplanetary nebula in the Monoceros constellation. The nebula was discovered in 1973 during a rocket flight associated with the AFCRL Infrared Sky Survey called Hi Star. The binary star at the center of the nebula, designated HD 44179, was first discovered by Robert Grant Aitken in 1915. It has the variable star designation V777 Monocerotis. The name Red Rectangle was officially added to the IAU Catalog of Star Names on 9 May 2026.
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Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
Bibliography
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Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.