Posted on 01/31/2012 7:06:50 PM PST by SunkenCiv
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 above picture was taken three colors on infrared light by the 4.1-meter Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy (VISTA) at the European Southern Observatory's Paranal Observatory in Chile. A close-up of the inner edge of the Helix Nebula shows complex gas knots of unknown origin.
(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...
[Credit: ESO/VISTA/J. Emerson; Acknowledgment: Cambridge Astronomical Survey Unit]
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One of the episodes of “The Universe” on today was about the end of our sun.
New episode starting now on H2.
Another Winner!
The Helix Nebula is also called “God’s Eye”. Not hard to see why.
I needed new wallpaper. :)
Beautiful image.
The Lidless Eye, wreathed in flame...
:’) Thought the same thing.
Beautiful to behold... at the end of a difficult day.
Beautiful to behold... at the end of a difficult day.
Watched the Universe episode last night about Nebula. Said you can’t see the Helix without a camera. I beg to differ. I have seen it many times in my 6 and my 8 inch scope.
Haven’t bothered lately, but, next time round (it’s almost behind the sun now) I’ll look.
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