Posted on 09/13/2020 3:02:34 PM PDT by MtnClimber
Explanation: Are stars better appreciated for their art after they die? Actually, stars usually create their most artistic displays as they die. In the case of low-mass stars like our Sun and M2-9 pictured here, the stars transform themselves from normal stars to white dwarfs by casting off their outer gaseous envelopes. The expended gas frequently forms an impressive display called a planetary nebula that fades gradually over thousands of years. M2-9, a butterfly planetary nebula 2100 light-years away shown in representative colors, has wings that tell a strange but incomplete tale. In the center, two stars orbit inside a gaseous disk 10 times the orbit of Pluto. The expelled envelope of the dying star breaks out from the disk creating the bipolar appearance. Much remains unknown about the physical processes that cause and shape planetary nebulae.
For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then zoom by moving the magnifying glass over an area and then clicking. The side bars will move the zoomed area over the photograph.
Pinging the APOD list.
That’s just stunning.
I would guess the visible light image is not nearly so colorful.
That’s what Ted Turner said.
What stuns me is how big the universe is...and it is theoretically expanding!. We are in the milky way galaxy which is a very small part of universe. And inside our galaxy the nearest star to us is so far away, it will require hundreds of generations of astronauts born and raised inside the space ship to reach it. Truly mind blowing.
Yes, “representative colors” were used. They may have combined visible with non-visible images from infrared, ultraviolet and/or X rays where they had to represent a non-visible spectrum in a color we can see. It could also be an image where they isolated emission signatures from different elements and showed them in different colors. Unfortunately they don’t usually give details like that. I think it would be interesting to many of us.
Good comment / explanation. I have to admit, the image as presented almost looks like some vast alien life form from Star Trek!
Trying to find out, but, I think it may be real color. Planetaries are strange beasts, and, if there is a large magnetic field, it can do some strange things with color.
Even if it is ‘Hubble Pallet’ color, they look pretty.
Looks like two ice cream cones, end to end......................
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