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Credit & Copyright: Patrick Winkler
Explanation:
A mere seven hundred light years from Earth toward the constellation
Aquarius,
a star is dying.
The once sun-like star's last few thousand years have produced the
Helix Nebula.
Also known as NGC 7293,
the cosmic Helix is
a well studied and nearby example of a
Planetary Nebula,
typical of this final phase of stellar evolution.
Combining narrow band data from emission lines of hydrogen atoms
in red and oxygen atoms in blue-green hues,
this deep image 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, dying
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 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: