Stunning photo previews the death of our Sun (Forwarded)
- From: Andrew Yee <ayee@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 1 Dec 2005 12:39:36 -0500 (EST)
Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council
Swindon, U.K.
Contact:
Julia Maddock, PPARC Press Office
Tel 01793 442094
24 November 2005
Stunning photo previews the death of our Sun
A beautiful image has been released today (November 24th) by the Gemini
Telescope showing the death of a star (planetary nebula M2-9) as it
transforms from a regular star to a white dwarf. In the process the star
casts off an ethereal envelope of gas in concentric shells -- the
formation of these shells are still a mystery to astronomers and this
image is part of new data that will help them to advance our understanding
of the phenomenon.
It is thought that when our Sun has used up all its hydrogen fuel in 4-5
billion years it will meet a similar fate.
The image was taken at the Gemini North Telescope in Hawaii. Gemini
operates twin telescopes that are two of the largest in the world. For
this image, astronomers used the newly upgraded ALTAIR adaptive optics
system which helps them correct any distortion of light due to the
atmosphere (the effect that makes stars appear to twinkle).
About PPARC,
http://www.pparc.ac.uk/Ap/intro.asp
Notes for Editors:
Full resolution image (4MB) is available to download at
<http://www.gemini.edu/index.php?set_albumName=Previous-Featured-Images&id=m2_9v3&option=com_gallery&Itemid=39&include=view_photo.php>
Image Credit: Gemini Observatory/Travis Rector, University of Alaska
Anchorage
.
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