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Credit & Copyright: Tommaso Stella
Explanation:
A mere seven hundred light years from Earth, toward the constellation
Aquarius,
a sun-like star is dying.
The dying star's last few thousand years have produced the
Helix
Nebula (NGC 7293), a well studied and nearby example of a
Planetary
Nebula, typical of this final phase of stellar evolution.
Combining narrow band image data from emission lines of hydrogen atoms
in red and oxygen atoms in blue-green hues,
it shows tantalizing
details
of the Helix, including its bright inner region
about 3 light-years across.
The white dot at the Helix's center is this Planetary Nebula's hot,
central
star.
A simple looking nebula at first glance,
the Helix is now understood to have a surprisingly
complex
geometry.
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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: Helix Nebula - NGC 7293
Publications with words: Helix Nebula - NGC 7293
See also: