The Helix Nebula from CFHT
Explanation:
Will our Sun look like this one day?
The Helix Nebula is one of brightest and closest examples of a
planetary nebula, a gas
cloud 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 about 700 light-years away towards the
constellation of the Water Bearer (Aquarius)
and spans about 2.5 light-years.
The
featured picture 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 complex 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.
