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Astronomy Picture of the Day - The Extraordinary Spiral in LL Pegasi
APOD.NASA.gov ^ | 29 Nov, 2021 | Image Credit: NASA, ESA, Hubble, HLA; Processing & Copyright: Jonathan Lodge

Posted on 11/29/2021 3:12:52 PM PST by MtnClimber

Explanation: What created the strange spiral structure on the upper left? No one is sure, although it is likely related to a star in a binary star system entering the planetary nebula phase, when its outer atmosphere is ejected. The huge spiral spans about a third of a light year across and, winding four or five complete turns, has a regularity that is without precedent. Given the expansion rate of the spiral gas, a new layer must appear about every 800 years, a close match to the time it takes for the two stars to orbit each other. The star system that created it is most commonly known as LL Pegasi, but also AFGL 3068 and IRAS 23166+1655. The featured image was taken in near-infrared light by the Hubble Space Telescope. Why the spiral glows is itself a mystery, with a leading hypothesis being illumination by light reflected from nearby stars.


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: afgl3068; apod; astronomy; binarystar; iras231661655; llpegasi; nasa; science
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 11/29/2021 3:12:52 PM PST by MtnClimber
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To: MtnClimber

2 posted on 11/29/2021 3:13:11 PM PST by MtnClimber (For photos of Colorado scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: 21stCenturion; 21twelve; 4everontheRight; abb; AFB-XYZ; America_Right; AZ .44 MAG; BBB333; ...
Pinging the APOD list.

🪐 🌟 🌌 🍔


3 posted on 11/29/2021 3:13:53 PM PST by MtnClimber (For photos of Colorado scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: MtnClimber

That’s a portal


4 posted on 11/29/2021 3:30:25 PM PST by DannyTN
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To: MtnClimber

What an amazing photo! Dozens of galaxies highlighted by that amazing spiral structure and the diffraction spikes from, I believe, Hubble’s secondary mirror supports?
This is one of the most incredible pictures I’ve seen from all the years Hubble has been up there.


5 posted on 11/29/2021 3:46:18 PM PST by telescope115 (Proud member of the ANTIFAuci movement. )
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To: DannyTN

It does look like it could be! A Worm Hole opening?


6 posted on 11/29/2021 3:48:01 PM PST by telescope115 (Proud member of the ANTIFAuci movement. )
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To: MtnClimber

It’s Aliens!!!

Someone call the President!


7 posted on 11/29/2021 4:20:02 PM PST by JoeRender
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To: DannyTN; MtnClimber
That’s a portal
Definitely different, I've never seen a portal ...

Look at all those galaxies!

Thanks MtnClimber. That's a great one. ;-)

8 posted on 11/29/2021 4:34:57 PM PST by Tunehead54 (Nothing funny here ; - )
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To: MtnClimber

There’s Pelosi, circling the toilet, getting ready to float down to her new house.


9 posted on 11/29/2021 4:41:02 PM PST by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer”)
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To: DannyTN

Good place for that fornicating German Shepherd across the street. (Long story)


10 posted on 11/29/2021 4:47:10 PM PST by AFB-XYZ (Stand up, or bend over)
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To: MtnClimber

bttt


11 posted on 11/29/2021 4:55:15 PM PST by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion, or satire. Or both.)
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To: AFB-XYZ

LOL, yeah that’s one way to deal with it.


12 posted on 11/29/2021 7:14:50 PM PST by DannyTN
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To: MtnClimber

A WORM HOLE!!!!....................


13 posted on 11/30/2021 5:14:14 AM PST by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
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To: MtnClimber

It’s a proto-Black Hole..........................


14 posted on 11/30/2021 5:15:45 AM PST by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
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To: MtnClimber

Everybody loves a mystery.


15 posted on 11/30/2021 7:33:59 AM PST by gloryblaze
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