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.. copy and pasted from the website called "Daily Galaxy" .. article written by Lydia Amazouz .. .. Megan Gale is Nebula.. the Roger Stern "Avengers" Secret Wars II crossover character "Nebula".. for Sam Raimi .. Non. Juggernaut. Heracles. Zoom. Wolverine. Dazzler. Alison Blaire. Logan. Nebula. Megan.
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Astronomers stunned by mysterious structure in the Ring Nebula
Story by Lydia Amazouz • 5h •
4 min read
Credit: Roger Wesson et al / MNRAS | The Daily Galaxy --Great Discoveries Channel
Credit: Roger Wesson et al / MNRAS | The Daily Galaxy --Great Discoveries Channel
© Daily Galaxy CA
For centuries, the Ring Nebula has captivated astronomers with its stunning, glowing appearance, but a recent discovery has added a new layer of mystery to this iconic celestial object. Hidden within its swirling cloud of gas, scientists have uncovered an unexpected feature: a long, narrow bar of ionized iron.
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This previously unseen structure challenges our understanding of planetary nebulae and the dramatic processes that occur when stars reach the end of their lives. Using the cutting-edge WEAVE instrument, astronomers have opened a new chapter in the study of stellar death and planet destruction, potentially revealing secrets about the fate of stars and the formation of elements in our universe.
The Discovery of a Colossal Iron Bar in the Ring Nebula
The Ring Nebula, one of the most iconic celestial objects in the night sky, has long been a subject of fascination for astronomers. Located approximately 2,600 light-years away in the constellation Lyra, it is a planetary nebula, essentially the remnants of a star that has shed its outer layers at the end of its life. In a new study published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, an international team of astronomers has revealed a remarkable discovery: a colossal, narrow bar of ionized iron, unseen in previous observations of this nebula. This new feature, stretching an astonishing 500 times the distance of Pluto’s orbit around the Sun, holds mass comparable to that of Mars.
M Staf2139fig1
M Staf2139fig1
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Using the WEAVE (WHT Enhanced Area Velocity Explorer) instrument, which was mounted on the 4.2-meter William Herschel Telescope, the researchers were able to observe the nebula in unprecedented detail. By capturing spectra continuously across the entire nebula, they could map its chemical composition at each point, revealing the presence of this unexpected iron structure. Dr. Roger Wesson, the lead author of the study and a researcher at UCL’s Department of Physics & Astronomy and Cardiff University, explained how the discovery came about.
“Even though the Ring Nebula has been studied using many different telescopes and instruments, WEAVE has allowed us to observe it in a new way, providing so much more detail than before. By obtaining a spectrum continuously across the whole nebula, we can create images of the nebula at any wavelength and determine its chemical composition at any position.”
The discovery of this “bar” of ionized iron has the potential to offer significant clues about the processes at play within a dying star and its surrounding nebula. The iron itself might hold the key to understanding how the stellar material is expelled and how such structures form.
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How the WEAVE Instrument Revolutionized the Study of the Ring Nebula
The WEAVE instrument, a powerful addition to theWilliam Herschel Telescope, represents a leap forward in the study of nebulae. Prior to the development of WEAVE, astronomers had relied on standard imaging and spectroscopy techniques that provided limited data. By using a unique array of optical fibers, WEAVE can capture spectra from multiple points in space simultaneously, allowing researchers to obtain a detailed map of chemical elements across the entire nebula.
M Staf2139fig3
M Staf2139fig3
© Daily Galaxy CA
Dr. Wesson and his team noted that despite the Ring Nebula having been extensively studied over the years, the level of detail provided by WEAVE was a significant breakthrough.
“When we processed the data and scrolled through the images, one thing popped out as clear as anything – this previously unknown ‘bar’ of ionized iron atoms, in the middle of the familiar and iconic ring,” Wesson remarked.
This discovery not only adds a new layer of complexity to our understanding of the nebula but also underscores the potential of WEAVE as a tool for future astronomical research.
The team is excited about the possibilities that lie ahead. With its ability to capture spectra across the full range of optical wavelengths, WEAVE could help astronomers make similar discoveries in other nebulae, perhaps revealing even more hidden features within other stellar remnants.
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Possible Origins of the Iron Bar: Planetary Destruction or Stellar Expulsion?
While the exact origin of the iron bar remains uncertain, several hypotheses have been put forward by the research team. One possibility is that the iron represents the remains of a rocky planet that was vaporized when the central star of the nebula expanded during its red giant phase. As stars like the Sun near the end of their lives, they undergo significant expansion, shedding their outer layers. In the case of the Ring Nebula, it is conceivable that a planet orbiting the star at the time could have been engulfed and disintegrated, with the iron from its core being incorporated into the nebula’s structure.
Another theory suggests that the iron bar could be the result of the dying star’s expulsion of material in a different manner, one yet to be fully understood. As Professor Janet Drew of UCL Physics & Astronomy pointed out,
“We definitely need to know more – particularly whether any other chemical elements co-exist with the newly-detected iron, as this would probably tell us the right class of model to pursue. Right now, we are missing this important information.”
The iron bar’s formation may offer new insights into the complex interplay between a dying star and its environment, shedding light on the processes that lead to the creation of planetary nebulae.
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