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Hubble observations of the Stingray Nebula in 1996 and 2016 show the dramatic changes in luminous gases.
NASA, ESA, B. Balick (University of Washington), M. Guerrero (Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía) and G. Ramos-Larios (University of Guadalajara)
In a universe where processes are often measured in millions and billions of years, the Hubble Space Telescope has witnessed something extraordinary over the course of just two decades. The Stringray Nebula went from bright in 1996 to faded in 2016, as if left hanging from a cosmic drying line.
Stingray, more formally known as Hen 3-1357, was hailed as the youngest known planetary nebula when it was first noticed. The nebula formed during the star’s end of life when it emitted luminous gases that gave it a shape similar to that of a marine animal.
What’s so wild about the nebula is the radical renewal it has undergone in such a short time. “Changes like this have never been captured with this clarity before,” NASA said in a statement Thursday, calling it “a rare look at a rapidly fading veil of gas around an aging star.”
NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) jointly manage Hubble. Astronomers are taking note of what both agencies have described as “unprecedented” changes. The nebula emitted a lot of nitrogen (red), hydrogen (blue), and oxygen (green), which gave it the distinct shape and glow in the original image.
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“This is very, very dramatic and very strange,” said Martín Guerrero, a member of the Hubble team at the Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía in Spain. “What we are seeing is the evolution of a nebula in real time.”
The culprit is likely the central star inside the nebula, which experienced a rapid increase in heat followed by a cooling phase. It appears that Hubble was lucky to take the images when he captured a before and after view of the nebula’s wild wobble. At this rate, NASA estimates it may be barely detectable within a few decades.
NASA The Hubble Twitter account went down the “How it started / How it goes” meme with before and after images of the nebula.
Despite being in orbit for 30 years, Hubble continues to provide us with incredible cosmic discoveries, from shocking views of the distant universe for gorgeous portraits of Jupiter.
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