The Helix Nebula from CFHT
Explanation:
One day our Sun may look like this.
The
Helix Nebula is the
closest example of a
planetary nebula
created at the end of the life of a Sun-like star.
The outer gasses of the star
expelled into space
appear from our vantage point as if we are looking down a
helix.
The remnant central stellar core, destined to become a
white dwarf star, glows in light so
energetic it
causes the previously expelled gas to
fluoresce.
The
Helix Nebula, given a technical designation of
NGC 7293, lies 450
light-years away towards the
constellation of
Aquarius and spans 1.5 light-years.
The
above image was taken with the
Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope
(CFHT) located atop a dormant volcano in
Hawaii, USA.
A
close-up of the inner edge
of the
Helix Nebula shows unusual gas knots of
unknown origin.
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.
