#bipolar nebula

[zespaceblog]

The Butterfly Nebula

Also known as NGC 6302, it's a beautiful example of a bi-polar planetary nebula.

Although obscured by a lane of dust (at the centre), the collapsed white dwarf is among the hottest stars known, at over 250,000'c. The assumption is the star must have been close to the Chandrasekhar limit, around 1.4 times the mass of our Sun.

Faint evidence of previous outbursts seem to reveal this final mass ejection was not it's first, it could be the star shed mass over a period of time before the final collapse set in place. This is to be expected, as gravitational contraction will increase the range of what can be fused, and hydrogen sat around the core that hadn't yet undergone fusion will now have sufficient pressure to do so, causing a period of spluttering between collapse and fusion, that gravity will ultimately win out.

The nebula is located in the constellation of Scorpius and is 3,400 light years from Earth.

[chibinotan]

Bipolar Nebula

[brightestofcentaurus]

Hen 2-437

Hen 2-437 is a planetary nebula in the Milky Way, located towards the constellation Vulpecula, the Fox. Some 3000 planetary nebulae have been found within our galaxy, many with the more characteristic spherical shape but some with “bipolar” jets like Hen 2-437.

Planetary nebula form at the end of a medium (Sun-sized) star’s life. After running out of fuel and expanding into a red giant star, it emits its outer layers and shrinks into a white dwarf. Radiation and stellar winds from the core star shape and illuminate the cast off material, creating stunning nebulae.

Image and information from ESA.

[spaceplasma]

Mystery Alignment of Dying Stars Puzzles Scientists

This image taken with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope shows an example of a bipolar planetary nebula. This object, which is known as Hubble 12 and also catalogued as PN G111.8-02.8, lies in the constellation of Cassiopeia.

Full Article

Credit: NASA, ESA; Acknowledgement: Josh Barrington

[astronemma]

Bipolar Nebulae

These distinctive nebular formations are characterised by their axially symmetric, bi-lobed appearance. Many planetary nebulae exhibit this feature, and it is possible that there is a relationship between the two types of nebula, with one preceding the other in their evolution. The exact cause of the bipolar structure is unknown, however it could be linked to bipolar outflow (a process in which a star ejects highly energetic streams of outflow along both poles).

Images from top to bottom: 

The Ant Nebula. Credit: NASA, ESA & the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA).

The Homunculus Nebula (left). Credit Nathan Smith (University of California, Berkeley), and NASA.

The Boomerang Nebula (right). Credit: NASA, ESA and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA).

Minkowski 2-9. Credit: Bruce Balick (University of Washington), Vincent Icke (Leiden University, The Netherlands), Garrelt Mellema (Stockholm University), and NASA/ESA.

The Hourglass Nebula (left). Credit: NASA, R. Sahai, J. Trauger (JPL), and The WFPC2 Science Team.

The Eskimo Nebula (right). Credit: NASA, ESA, Andrew Fruchter (STScI), and the ERO team (STScI + ST-ECF).