by Astronomers using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope and the 1.8-m Pan-STARRS1 telescope have captured a detailed image of the unusual planetary nebula Abell 78.
Abell 78 resides approximately 5,000 light-years away in the constellation of Cygnus.
Also known as ACO 78, PK 081-14.1 and ARO 174, this planetary nebula is 2.8 light-years across.
Abell 78’s faint halo consists mostly of hydrogen, and its inner elliptical ring is made of helium.
“After exhausting the nuclear fuel in their cores, stars with a mass of around 0.8 to 8 times the mass of our Sun collapse to form dense and hot white dwarf stars,” Hubble astronomers said.
“As this process occurs, the dying star will throw off its outer layers of material, forming an elaborate cloud of gas and dust known as a planetary nebula.”
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Abell 78 resides approximately 5,000 light-years away in the constellation of Cygnus.
Also known as ACO 78, PK 081-14.1 and ARO 174, this planetary nebula is 2.8 light-years across.
Abell 78’s faint halo consists mostly of hydrogen, and its inner elliptical ring is made of helium.
“After exhausting the nuclear fuel in their cores, stars with a mass of around 0.8 to 8 times the mass of our Sun collapse to form dense and hot white dwarf stars,” Hubble astronomers said.
“As this process occurs, the dying star will throw off its outer layers of material, forming an elaborate cloud of gas and dust known as a planetary nebula.”
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