Colliding Gas in the Helix Nebula
This colourful image from the Hubble Space Telescope shows the collision of two gases near a dying star. Astronomers have dubbed the tadpole-like objects in the upper right-hand corner 'cometary knots' because their glowing heads and gossamer tails resemble comets.
This colorful image from the Hubble Space Telescope shows the collision of two gases near a dying star.
Astronomers have dubbed the tadpole-like objects in the upper right-hand corner 'cometary knots' because their glowing heads and gossamer tails resemble comets.
Credit:
About the Image
NASA press release
NASA caption
NASA caption
| Id: | opo9613a |
| Type: | Observation |
| Release date: | 15 April 1996, 06:00 |
| Size: | 1486 x 1504 px |
About the Object
| Name: | Helix Nebula, NGC 7293 |
| Type: | • Milky Way : Nebula : Type : Planetary • Nebulae Images/Videos |
| Distance: | 2500 light years |
Colours & filters
| Band | Wavelength | Telescope |
| Optical Oi |
500 nm | Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 |
| Optical H-alpha |
656 nm | Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 |
| Optical Nii |
658 nm | Hubble Space Telescope WFPC2 |
