StarNut
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 Helix Nebula | |
Hi,
This is the Helix Nebula, a large, bright planetary nebula, the type of nebula which it is generally thought our Sun will produce as nuclear fusion slows and then dies in its core, and it expels its outer layers of gas. For obvious reasons, it has been called \"The Eye of God\" and \"The Eye of Sauron.\" Estimates of its distance from Earth vary, but tend to be around 650 light years, making it the closest planetary nebula to Earth; it is about six light years across (including the fainter nebulosity).
The little blue star at the center of the nebula (in the middle of the blue/green disc) is the star that started this nebula when it shucked off its outer layers; that event is thought to have happened about 11,000 years ago. That \"blue\" star actually is a white dwarf, about the size of Earth, but has a mass very close to that of the original star; it\'s so dense that a teaspoon of a white dwarf would weigh as much as a few elephants! I\'m guessing that it looks blue because of the bluish gas it\'s in the midst of (and it does look blue in all \"true light\" images).
This image contains a bit over 26 hours of light-frame data, about half of which was taken through a hydrogen alpha filter.
Camera: Santa Barbara Instruments Group STL11000M
Telescope: RC Optical Systems 14.5\" carbon-truss Ritchey-Chretien (Cassegrain)
Mount: Software Bisque Paramount ME
Enjoy!
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