the end of a star.
NGC 2392, the “Eskimo Nebula"
Located about 4,200 light years from Earth.
It is what astronomers call a planetary nebula.
The term is simply a historic relic
since these objects looked like planetary disks to astronomers in earlier times
looking through small optical telescopes.
It forms when a star uses up all of the hydrogen in its core
an event our Sun will go through in about five billion years
When this happens
the star begins to cool and expand
increasing its radius by tens to hundreds of times its original size
Eventually
the outer layers of the star are carried away by a 50,000 kilometer per hour wind
leaving behind a hot core
Wish there were a "like" button. =) Nice read and pic!
ReplyDelete