Legacy Astronomical Images > Galactic Sources Series > Planetary Nebulae Unit

Description

Planetary nebulae form when the gaseous outer layers of a star have been ejected into space as the star collapses into a white dwarf. The ultraviolet radiation from the white dwarf causes the gas to fluoresce.

Collection Items

Planetary Nebula NGC 6543
Description: This is an image of the radio emission from the planetary nebula NGC 6543. The intensity of the radio emission is denoted by color, whcih ranges from red (brightest) to blue (faintest). The effective angular size of the array's beam is shown in the…

Planetary Nebula NGC 40
Description: In 1977, the newly functioning VLA was used to map the radio emission from shells of hot gas, known as planetary nebulae, ejected from dying stars. NGC 40 is a planetary nebula formed when when a star expelled part of its atmosphere and then…

Planetary Nebula IC 3568
Description: In 1977, the newly functioning VLA was used to map the radio emission from shells of hot gas, known as planetary nebulae, ejected from dying stars. The intensity of the radiation is denoted by color, which ranges from red (brightest) to blue…

Planetary Nebula NGC 7354
Description: In 1977, the newly functioning VLA was used to map the radio emission from shells of hot gas, known as planetary nebulae, ejected from dying stars. NGC7354 (located in the constellation Cepheus) is a planetary nebulae formed when a star expelled part…

Planetary Nebula NGC 7027
Description: In 1977, the newly functioning VLA was used to map the radio emission from shells of hot gas, known as planetary nebulae, ejected from dying stars. The intensity of the radiation is denoted by color, which ranges from red (brightest) to blue…

Planetary Nebula K3-35 (PN G056.0+02.0)
Description: The planetary nebula K3-35. The colors show the 3.6 cm continuum emission, which trace the ionized nebular material. A bright core and two bipolar lobes, whose brightest parts correspond to a precessing bipolar jet, can be distinguished.

Masers in K3-35
Description: Water maser and OH maser emission in the planetary nebula K3-35 (figure adapted from Miranda et al. 2001). The color images show the 3.6 cm and 1.3 cm (inset) continuum emission, which trace the ionized nebular material. A bright core, with an…

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