New Delhi, May 18: The European Space Agency (ESA) has released a breathtaking image showcasing how aging stars appear in their final stages. Captured by the Hubble Space Telescope, the image features a planetary nebula where the star’s outer gaseous layers are dispersing into space, glowing brightly in ultraviolet light.
ESA shared the image on its official Instagram account, stating, “It’s Hubble time! This image depicts the planetary nebula NGC 6741, also known as the Phantom Streak Nebula. Located about 7,000 light-years away in the Aquila constellation, this nebula is misnamed as it contains no planets. In the 18th century, astronomers observed these spherical clouds of gas through telescopes, mistaking them for planets in our solar system, which led to its name.”
NGC 6741 is quite luminous, yet it appears small through standard telescopes. It was first discovered in 1882 by Edward Charles Pickering.
Examining the life cycle of aging stars, medium-sized stars like our Sun, or slightly larger ones, transform into red giants as they exhaust their fuel. During this phase, the star expands and sheds its outer gaseous layers into space. The remaining hot and small core emits intense ultraviolet rays, illuminating these gases. This stage is referred to as a planetary nebula, which typically shines for about 10,000 years before the gas gradually disperses, leaving behind a cold, dim white dwarf star.
NGC 6741 is distinct from typical spherical nebulae. Its shape is rectangular, resembling a glowing pillow. Scientists believe it may harbor a binary star, contributing to its unique appearance. Planetary nebulae usually manifest in shapes like rings, disks, or tubes, influenced by magnetic fields and nearby stars.
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