nebula

Scientists reveal unexpected structure of Southern Ring Nebula: ‘We were surprised’

by
a small bright blue point in the center is surrounded by exploding gas, hued red then diminishing to green before fading into the black of space.

The glorious, billowing Southern Ring Nebula is the cocoon of a dying star, and it has a secret. Scientists have found that this nebula has a double ring structure that shows not one, but possibly three stars at its heart. The Southern Ring Nebula, also designated NGC 3132, is a planetary nebula located about 2,000 … Read more

Binary stars form in the same nebula but are not identical. Now we know why.

by
Binary stars form in the same nebula but are not identical. Now we know why.

It is logical that stars formed from the same cloud of material have the same metallicity. This fact underpins some avenues of astronomical research, such as the search for the brothers of the Sun. But for some binary stars, that’s not always true. Their composition can be different despite forming from the same reservoir of … Read more