Helix nebula. Optical image of the Helix nebula (NGC 7293). This nebula lies around 700 light years from Earth in the constellation Aquarius and belon

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Helix nebula. Optical image of the Helix nebula (NGC 7293). This nebula lies around 700 light years from Earth in the constellation Aquarius and belongs to a class of objects known as planetary nebulae. Planetary nebulae are the remains of stars that once looked a lot like the Sun. When sun-like stars die, they puff out their outer gaseous layers, which are heated by the hot core of the dead white dwarf star (white dot, centre) and shine with infrared and visible colours.

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Size: 4588px × 4594px
Photo credit: © Adam Block/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: -, 7293, astronomical, astronomy, astrophysical, astrophysics, dead, death, gas, gasses, helix, image, nebula, ngc, observation, optical, space, star, starry, stars