APOD: 2026 March 4 Б Shapley 1: An Annular Planetary Nebula
Explanation:
WhatБs looking back at you isnБt a cosmic eye, but
Shapley 1,
a beautifully symmetric
planetary nebula.
Shapley 1, also known as the
Fine Ring Nebula or
PLN 329+2.1,
bejewels the southern sky constellation of the
Carpenter's Square
(Norma).
The nebula is the result of a star near the mass of our Sun
running out of fuel and shedding its outer layers.
Glowing oxygen from those expelled layers makes up the circular halo.
The bright central point is actually a binary: a
white dwarf, the remaining stellar core after the outer layers are expelled
into space, and another star, orbiting each other every 2.9 days.
Shapley 1Бs
annular shape is due to our
top-down view of the system and provides insight into the
influence of central stars on planetary nebula structures.
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.
