. 24/7 Space News .
STELLAR CHEMISTRY
Gemini South telescope captures exquisite planetary nebula
by Staff Writers
Hilo HI (SPX) Feb 26, 2020

illustration only

The latest image from the international Gemini Observatory showcases the striking planetary nebula CVMP 1. This object is the result of the death throes of a giant star and is a glorious but relatively short-lived astronomical spectacle. As the progenitor star of this planetary nebula slowly cools, this celestial hourglass will run out of time and will slowly fade from view over many thousands of years.

Located roughly 6500 light-years away in the southern constellation of Circinus (The Compass) this astronomical beauty formed during the final death throes of a massive star. CVMP 1 is a planetary nebula; it emerged when an old red giant star blew off its outer layers in the form of a tempestuous stellar wind.

As this cast-aside stellar atmosphere sped outwards into interstellar space, the hot, exposed core of the progenitor star began to energize the ejected gases and cause them to glow. This formed the beautiful hourglass shape captured in this observation from the international Gemini Observatory, a facility of NSF's National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory.

Planetary nebulae like CVMP 1 are formed by only certain stars - those with a mass somewhere between 0.8 and 8 times that of our own Sun. Less massive stars will gently fizzle out, transitioning into white dwarfs at the end of their long lives, whereas more massive stars live fast and die young, ending their lives in gargantuan explosions known as supernovae.

For stars lying between these extremes, however, the final stretch of their lives results in a striking astronomical display such as the one seen in this image. Unfortunately, the spectacle provided by a planetary nebula is as brief as it is glorious; these objects typically persist for only 10,000 years - a tiny stretch of time compared to the lifespan of most stars, which lasts billions of years.

These short-lived planetary nebulae come in myriad shapes and sizes, and several particularly striking forms are well known, such as the Helix Nebula which is captured in this image from 2003 which combined OIR Lab facilities at Kitt Peak National Observatory with the Hubble Space Telescope.

The great diversity of shapes stems from the diversity of progenitor star systems, whose characteristics can greatly influence the ensuing planetary nebula. The presence of companion stars, orbiting planets, or even the rotation of the original red giant star can help determine the shape of a planetary nebula, but we don't yet have a detailed understanding of the processes sculpting these beautiful astronomical fireworks displays.

But CVMP 1 is intriguing for more than just its aesthetic value. Astronomers have found that the gases making up the hourglass are highly enriched with helium and nitrogen, and that CVMP 1 is one of the largest planetary nebulae known. These clues together suggest that CVMP 1 is highly evolved, making it an ideal object to help astronomers understand the later lives of planetary nebulae.

Astronomical measurements have revealed the characteristics of CVMP 1's central star. By measuring the light emitted from the gas in the planetary nebula, astronomers infer that the temperature of the central star is at least 130,000 degrees C (230,000 degrees F). Despite this scorching temperature, the star is doomed to steadily cool over thousands of years. Eventually, the light it emits will have too little energy to ionize gas in the planetary nebula, causing the striking hourglass shown in this image to fade from view.

The international Gemini Observatory, comprises telescopes in the northern and southern hemispheres, which together can access the entire night sky. Similar to many large observatories, a small fraction of the observing time of the Gemini telescopes is set aside for the creation of color images that can share the beauty of the Universe with the public. Objects are chosen for their aesthetic appeal - such as this striking celestial hourglass.


Related Links
Gemini Observatory
Stellar Chemistry, The Universe And All Within It


Thanks for being there;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5+ Billed Monthly


paypal only
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal


STELLAR CHEMISTRY
A Cosmic Jekyll and Hyde
Boston MA (SPX) Feb 21, 2020
A double star system has been flipping between two alter egos, according to observations with NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and the National Science Foundation's Karl F. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA). Using nearly a decade and a half worth of Chandra data, researchers noticed that a stellar duo behaved like one type of object before switching its identity, and then returning to its original state after a few years. This is a rare example of a star system changing its behavior in this way. Astro ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

STELLAR CHEMISTRY
Katherine Johnson, NASA mathematician, dies at 101

Adidas, Delta Faucet prep research projects for International Space Station

Improving shoes, showers, 3D printing: research launching to the Space Station

NASA selects proposals for student aeronautics, space projects

STELLAR CHEMISTRY
AFRL, Masten Space Systems, NASA, collaborate on successful testing of methane engine

Blue Origin opens Huntsville factory for BE-7 rocket engines

Simple, fuel-efficient rocket engine could enable cheaper, lighter spacecraft

SpaceX announces partnership to send four tourists into deep orbit

STELLAR CHEMISTRY
Mars InSight Lander to push on top of the 'Mole'

Seismic activity on Mars resembles that found in the Swabian Jura

Journey to the center of Mars

NASA adds return sample scientists to Mars 2020 leadership team

STELLAR CHEMISTRY
China's Yuanwang-5 sails to Pacific Ocean for space monitoring mission

Construction of China's space station begins with start of LM-5B launch campaign

China Prepares to Launch Unknown Satellite Aboard Long March 7A Rocket

China's Long March-5B carrier rocket arrives at launch site

STELLAR CHEMISTRY
Kleos Space secures 3M Euro loan agreement with Dubai family office

NASA introduces mission support updates at Marshall Small Business Meeting

Airbus Defence and Space to cut over 2,300 jobs

Understanding the impact of satellite constellations on astronomy

STELLAR CHEMISTRY
Exotrail Secures Contract with AAC Clyde Space to equip their customers' spacecrafts

Celestia UK to develop advanced antenna systems with Scottish Enterprise Support

Raytheon awarded $17 million for dual band radar spares for USS Ford

Cracks actually protect historical paintings against environmental fluctuation

STELLAR CHEMISTRY
Sub-Neptune sized planet validated with the habitable-zone planet finder

Planet on edge of destruction in 18-hour year frenzy

Random gene pulse patterns key to multicellular system development

LOFAR pioneers new way to study exoplanet environments

STELLAR CHEMISTRY
Findings from Juno Update Jupiter Water Mystery

One Step Closer to the Edge of the Solar System

TRIDENT Mission Concept Selected by NASA's Discovery Program

A close-up of Arrokoth reveals how planetary building blocks were constructed









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.