Planetary Nebula Abell 36
Explanation:
The gorgeous, gaseous shroud of a dying sunlike star,
planetary nebula
Abell 36 lies a mere 800 light-years away in the constellation of Virgo.
At that distance it spans over 1.5 light-years in
this
sharp telescopic view.
Shrugging off its outer layers, the nebula's central star
is contracting and becoming hotter, evolving towards a final
white
dwarf phase.
In fact, in Abell 36, the central star is estimated to have a
surface temperature of over 73,000 K, compared to the Sun's present 6,000
K temperature.
As a result, the intensely hot star is much brighter in
ultraviolet light, compared to its visual appearance here.
The invisible ultraviolet light ionizes hydrogen and oxygen atoms
in the nebula and ultimately powers the beautiful visible light glow.
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.
