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Credit & Copyright: Steve Mazlin
Explanation:
Is this what will become of our Sun?
Quite possibly.
The first hint of our
Sun's future
was discovered inadvertently in
1764.
At that time,
Charles Messier was compiling a list
of diffuse objects not to be confused with comets.
The 27th object on
Messier's list, now known as
M27 or the Dumbbell Nebula, is a
planetary nebula,
the type of nebula our
Sun will produce when
nuclear fusion stops in its core.
M27 is one of the brightest
planetary nebulae on the sky,
and can be seen toward the constellation
of the Fox (Vulpecula) with binoculars.
It takes light about 1000 years to reach us from M27,
featured here in colors emitted by
hydrogen and
oxygen.
Understanding the physics and significance of
M27
was well beyond 18th century science.
Even today, many things
remain mysterious about
bipolar planetary nebula like
M27, including the physical mechanism that expels a
low-mass star's gaseous outer-envelope, leaving an
X-ray hot white
dwarf.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: M 27 - dumbbell nebula
Publications with words: M 27 - dumbbell nebula
See also: