Hubble captures demise of Sun-like star

Posted on Sunday, February 18 2007 @ 15:01 CET by Thomas De Maesschalck

Space telescope captured this pretty image from the demise of a star like our Sun approximately 3,600 light years away in the NGC 2440 planetary nebula in the Milky Way Galaxy.

The star is ending its life by casting off its outer layers of gas, which formed a cocoon around the star's remaining core. Ultraviolet light from the dying star then makes the material glow.

The burned-out star, called a white dwarf, appears as a white dot in the center.

Our Milky Way Galaxy is littered with these stellar relics, called planetary nebulae. Hubble's Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 captured this image of planetary nebula NGC 2440 on Feb. 6, 2007.

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Thomas De Maesschalck

Thomas has been messing with computer since early childhood and firmly believes the Internet is the best thing since sliced bread. Enjoys playing with new tech, is fascinated by science, and passionate about financial markets. When not behind a computer, he can be found with running shoes on or lifting heavy weights in the weight room.

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