NGC: The Robin’s Egg nebula

in #space6 years ago

Image credit NGC 1360: The Robin's Egg Nebula


Explanation: This pretty cosmic cloud lies some 1,500 light-years away, it shape and color reminiscent of a blue robin's egg. It spans about 3 light-years, nested securely within the boundaries of the southern constellation Fornax. Recognized as a planetary nebula, NGC 1360 doesn't represent a beginning though. Instead it corresponds to a brief and final phase in the evolution of an aging star. In fact, visible in the telescopic image the central star of NGC 1360 is known to be a binary star system likely consisting of two evolved white dwarf stars, less massive but much hotter than the Sun. Their intense and otherwise invisible ultraviolet radiation has stripped away electrons from the atoms in the surrounding gaseous shroud. The predominant blue-green hue of NGC 1360 seen here is the strong emission produced as electrons recombine with doubly ionized oxygen atoms.

Nothing is prettier than our nature. You can see a bright nebula in the center of the above photograph which appears like a blue robin’s egg, known as NGC 1360. It is located about 1,500 light-years away from Earth and spans some 3 light-years. It is encircled by the boundaries of the southern constellation Fornax.

Source: https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap180511.html

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