Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Astronomy Picture of the Day - Halo of the Cat's Eye
NASA ^ | 16 Apr, 2025 | Image Credit & Copyright: Taavi Niittee (Tõrva Astronomy Club)

Posted on 04/16/2025 12:03:49 PM PDT by MtnClimber

Explanation: What created the unusual halo around the Cat's Eye Nebula? No one is sure. What is sure is that the Cat's Eye Nebula (NGC 6543) is one of the best known planetary nebulae on the sky. Although haunting symmetries are seen in the bright central region, this image was taken to feature its intricately structured outer halo, which spans over three light-years across. Planetary nebulae have long been appreciated as a final phase in the life of a Sun-like star. Only recently however, have some planetaries been found to have expansive halos, likely formed from material shrugged off during earlier puzzling episodes in the star's evolution. While the planetary nebula phase is thought to last for around 10,000 years, astronomers estimate the age of the outer filamentary portions of the Cat's Eye Nebula's halo to be 50,000 to 90,000 years.


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; nasa
To be added or removed from the Astronomy Picture of the Day ping list please send me a request via "Private Reply" (Mail).

For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then move the magnifying glass cursor then click to zoom in and click again to zoom out. When zoomed in you can scan by moving the side bars on the bottom and right side of the image.

1 posted on 04/16/2025 12:03:49 PM PDT by MtnClimber
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber

2 posted on 04/16/2025 12:04:12 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 21stCenturion; 21twelve; 4everontheRight; A Navy Vet; A_perfect_lady; abb; AFB-XYZ; AFPhys; ...
Pinging the APOD list

🪐 🌟 🌌 🍔

3 posted on 04/16/2025 12:05:28 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber
My favorite Nebula! I can't WAIT for God to 'splain all of this to me. ;)


4 posted on 04/16/2025 12:13:56 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber

They’ve trapped Superman’s cat in kryptonite.

I suspect Lex Luthor.


5 posted on 04/16/2025 12:34:37 PM PDT by DannyTN
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: DannyTN; Diana in Wisconsin

I think it is Schrodinger’s Cat. But it is not there any more. It is back in it’s sealed box.


6 posted on 04/16/2025 12:49:29 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber

Looks just like the baleful glare cast upon all of us kids by the family cat one day. He foolishly went to sleep in the clothes dryer, and my oldest brother, not being aware of it, tossed a load of clothes in and turned the dryer on.

A couple of thuds and some muted yowls later (maybe two seconds in all), my brother flung open the dryer door, and out shot the cat. Yes, he was fluffy.


7 posted on 04/16/2025 1:41:44 PM PDT by AFB-XYZ (( We have two options: 1. Stand up, or 2. Bend over))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber

So about 90,000 years ago the civilization on the planet around that star was wiped out when the star matter slammed into the planet.

FTA: While the planetary nebula phase is thought to last for around 10,000 years, astronomers estimate the age of the outer filamentary portions of the Cat’s Eye Nebula’s halo to be 50,000 to 90,000 years.


8 posted on 04/16/2025 2:52:09 PM PDT by minnesota_bound (Need more money to buy everything now)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

#4 God will say the star blowed up real good.

It blowed up, blowed up real good!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wf4exIiQr8


9 posted on 04/16/2025 2:53:50 PM PDT by minnesota_bound (Need more money to buy everything now)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: minnesota_bound

There is a sci-fi short story about that, turns out it was the star of Bethlehem...


10 posted on 04/16/2025 2:57:37 PM PDT by tet68 ("We would not die in that man's company that fears his fellowship to die with us." Henry V.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber
I think it is Schrodinger’s Cat. But it is not there any more. It is back in it’s sealed box.

Or is it?

11 posted on 04/16/2025 5:37:59 PM PDT by MikelTackNailer (NewRome Tacitus)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: minnesota_bound

LOL! With all the powers of His Universe at hand, I find it hard to believe he doesn’t ‘blow up stuff’ on a daily basis, or play Snooker with the planets, at the very least.

Stupid Humans! ;)

(Love those guys.)


12 posted on 04/16/2025 6:46:01 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: MtnClimber

I have a male cat (fixed!) that is still a total BULLY and beats on his very own SISTER cat (fixed!) on a daily basis.

Maybe it’s time for Boyd to go in the box? He’s REALLY p*ssin’ me off! Leave Eva Grace alone, ya jerk!

I’m NOT a ‘cat person’ by ANY stretch of the imagination. But I’ve lived on farms for the past 35 years, so I’ve always ‘had’ cats around. I can’t explain it...any more than I can ‘splain our Universe. I think it’s a Love/Hate relationship with them BOTH, LOL!


13 posted on 04/16/2025 6:56:29 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson