 |
Астронет: Астрономическая картинка дня NGC 4361: планетарная туманность в форме галактики http://variable-stars.ru/db/msg/1161870/eng |
Credit & Copyright: Bill Keel,
U. Alabama
Explanation:
Glowing in the red light emitted by
hydrogen atoms, the
planetary nebula
NGC 4361 is pictured above. The nebula itself is formed by the outer
layers of gas shrugged off by the central star visible in the image. The
star's nuclear fuel almost exhausted, it is cooling and
shrinking - entering the
white dwarf phase of its life.
The curved tendrils of emission reaching
out from the body of the nebula have a shape reminiscent of the arms of
of a spiral galaxy.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.