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Astronomy Picture of the Day -- The Cat's Eye Nebula
NASA ^
| August 26, 2012
| (see photo credit)
Posted on 08/25/2012 11:40:38 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
Explanation: Three thousand light-years away, a dying star throws off shells of glowing gas. This image from the Hubble Space Telescope reveals the Cat's Eye Nebula to be one of the most complex planetary nebulae known. In fact, the features seen in the Cat's Eye are so complex that astronomers suspect the bright central object may actually be a binary star system. The term planetary nebula, used to describe this general class of objects, is misleading. Although these objects may appear round and planet-like in small telescopes, high resolution images reveal them to be stars surrounded by cocoons of gas blown off in the late stages of stellar evolution.
(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...
TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; astronomy; science
1
posted on
08/25/2012 11:40:50 PM PDT
by
SunkenCiv
To: brytlea; cripplecreek; decimon; bigheadfred; KoRn; Grammy; married21; steelyourfaith; Mmogamer; ...
2
posted on
08/25/2012 11:42:50 PM PDT
by
SunkenCiv
(https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
To: FReepers; Patriots; All
ONLY $260 is needed to end the 'Thon!
This would be a good time to help FR, click the pic .. thank you!
3
posted on
08/25/2012 11:46:35 PM PDT
by
STARWISE
(The overlords are in place .. we are a nation under siege .. pray, go Galt & hunker down)
To: SunkenCiv
That looks like a jewel!
Thank you very much, SunkenCiv!
4
posted on
08/25/2012 11:54:18 PM PDT
by
onyx
(FREE REPUBLIC IS HERE TO STAY! DONATE MONTHLY! IF YOU WANT ON SARAH PALIN''S PING LIST, LET ME KNOW)
To: onyx
5
posted on
08/26/2012 1:00:16 AM PDT
by
SunkenCiv
(https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
To: SunkenCiv
6
posted on
08/26/2012 2:51:02 AM PDT
by
ExxonPatrolUs
("Trizzle, trazzle, trozzle, trome, time for this one to come home" - Mr Wizard)
To: SunkenCiv
7
posted on
08/26/2012 5:05:13 AM PDT
by
left that other site
(Worry is the Darkroom that Develops Negatives.)
To: SunkenCiv
One of my favorite things to do on a warm summer night is pull out my Meade SCT telescope and explore planetary nebulae. They don't look like this to the naked eye and are far more subtle, but still beautiful nonetheless.
8
posted on
08/26/2012 6:25:05 AM PDT
by
LaserJock
To: SunkenCiv
Somebody sent me an email with this picture attached.
He thought it was spectacularly beautiful, and I agree with him.
Thank you, Sensei!
Thank you, Mr. Civilizations!
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