Dumbbell Nebula

Discussion in 'Astronomy, Exobiology, & Cosmology' started by wet1, Feb 13, 2003.

  1. wet1 Wanderer Registered Senior Member

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    Dumbbell Nebula Close-Up from Hubble
    Credit: C. R. O'Dell (Vanderbilt) et al., Hubble Heritage Team (STScI / AURA), NASA

    What causes unusual knots of gas and dust in planetary nebulas? Seen previously in the Ring Nebula, the Helix Nebula, and the Eskimo Nebula, the knots' existence was not predicted previously and still not well understood. Pictured above is a newly released image of the Dumbbell Nebula by the Hubble Space Telescope showing details of its gaseous knots. Also visible are many bright young stars and dark sheets of interstellar dust. The Dumbbell Nebula, also known as M27, is a planetary nebula thought similar to what our Sun will become when it runs out of core fuel for nuclear fusion. Recent study of similar cometary knots indicates that they include concentrations of relatively cold molecular gas and that they change significantly as the planetary nebula ages.
     
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  3. Pollux V Ra Bless America Registered Senior Member

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    Incredible.
     
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