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Astronomy Picture of the Day -- The Helix Nebula from the VISTA Telescope
NASA ^ | January 31, 2012 | (see photo credit)

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.

January 31, 2012

(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; aquarius; astronomy; helixnebula; science
[Credit: ESO/VISTA/J. Emerson; Acknowledgment: Cambridge Astronomical Survey Unit]

1 posted on 01/31/2012 7:06:57 PM PST by SunkenCiv
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To: brytlea; cripplecreek; decimon; bigheadfred; KoRn; Grammy; married21; steelyourfaith; Mmogamer; ...

2 posted on 01/31/2012 7:08:01 PM PST by SunkenCiv (FReep this FReepathon!)
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To: SunkenCiv

One of the episodes of “The Universe” on today was about the end of our sun.

New episode starting now on H2.


3 posted on 01/31/2012 7:13:02 PM PST by cripplecreek (What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?)
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To: SunkenCiv

Another Winner!


4 posted on 01/31/2012 7:15:23 PM PST by left that other site
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To: cripplecreek

The Helix Nebula is also called “God’s Eye”. Not hard to see why.


5 posted on 01/31/2012 7:18:28 PM PST by LifePath
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To: SunkenCiv

I needed new wallpaper. :)

Beautiful image.


6 posted on 01/31/2012 7:23:39 PM PST by Colonel_Flagg (Why, yes. I AM in a bad mood.)
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To: SunkenCiv

The Lidless Eye, wreathed in flame...


7 posted on 01/31/2012 8:34:41 PM PST by PzLdr ("The Emperor is not as forgiving as I am" - Darth Vader)
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To: PzLdr

:’) Thought the same thing.


8 posted on 01/31/2012 8:49:32 PM PST by SunkenCiv (FReep this FReepathon!)
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To: SunkenCiv

Beautiful to behold... at the end of a difficult day.


9 posted on 01/31/2012 9:14:19 PM PST by Bon of Babble (The Road to Ruin is Always Kept in Good Repair)
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To: SunkenCiv

Beautiful to behold... at the end of a difficult day.


10 posted on 01/31/2012 9:15:40 PM PST by Bon of Babble (The Road to Ruin is Always Kept in Good Repair)
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To: cripplecreek

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.


11 posted on 02/01/2012 7:10:36 AM PST by Conan the Librarian (The Best in Life is to crush my enemies, see them driven before me, and the Dewey Decimal System)
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