The Helix Nebula from La Silla Observatory
Credit: WFI, MPG/ESO 2.2-m Telescope, La Silla Obs., ESO
Posted on 03/03/2009 12:27:32 PM PST by sig226
Explanation: Will our Sun look like this one day? The Helix Nebula is one of brightest and closest examples of a planetary nebula, a gas cloud created at the end of the life of a Sun-like star. The outer gasses of the star expelled into space appear from our vantage point as if we are looking down a helix. The remnant central stellar core, destined to become a white dwarf star, glows in light so energetic it causes the previously expelled gas to fluoresce. The Helix Nebula, given a technical designation of NGC 7293, lies about 700 light-years away towards the constellation of Aquarius and spans about 2.5 light-years. The above picture was taken by the Wide Field Imager on the 2.2-meter Telescope at the European Southern Observatory's La Silla Observatory. A close-up of the inner edge of the Helix Nebula shows complex gas knots of unknown origin.
Outstanding! Thanks very much!
“The Eye of God”
WOW....
That is beautiful! Ya, know, if we ever do discover a twin earth, I thnk we should claim it of conservatives. Imagine.....no liberals. :-)
God is watching us!
Actually it’s fairly small as space objects go. Seems like I read that the Ort cloud of our solar system extends out to around 2 light years from the sun. Basically that would make what we see to be about half the size as our total system.
And he is not amused...
That is really pretty.
Thanks!
That is a beautiful picture!
I love what you’ve done with it, potlatch.
Thank you DC. I made that long ago. It is supposed to be God’s hand reaching out to another.
I knew that. ;o)
Yes, goes without saying, lol.
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