This is an image taken by the Hubble Space Telescope of the Helix nebula, a planetary nebula formed from a dying star. This is the nearest planetary nebula to Earth, about 700 light years away toward the constellation Aquarius. Nebulae such as these can give us clues about how our sun will act when it finally goes supernova. Studies using both the HST and the Blanco Telescope in Chile, however, have revealed that the nebula contains an astonishing combination of geometric shapes that combine to form an intricate pattern, and scientists cannot determine how a single star could create such patterns. Questions like these are why people study astronomy.
Friday, October 17, 2014
APOD 1.8
This is an image taken by the Hubble Space Telescope of the Helix nebula, a planetary nebula formed from a dying star. This is the nearest planetary nebula to Earth, about 700 light years away toward the constellation Aquarius. Nebulae such as these can give us clues about how our sun will act when it finally goes supernova. Studies using both the HST and the Blanco Telescope in Chile, however, have revealed that the nebula contains an astonishing combination of geometric shapes that combine to form an intricate pattern, and scientists cannot determine how a single star could create such patterns. Questions like these are why people study astronomy.
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