Hubble Captures Fading of the Stingray Nebula
Archival data from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope reveal that the nebula Hen 3-1357, nicknamed the Stingray nebula, has faded precipitously over just the past two decades. Witnessing such a swift rate of change in a planetary nebula is exceedingly rare, say researchers.
These images captured by Hubble in 1996 (left), when compared to Hubble images taken in 2016 (right), show a nebula that has drastically dimmed in brightness and changed shape. Bright blue shells of gas near the centre of the nebula have all but disappeared, and the wavy edges that earned this nebula its aquatic-themed name are virtually gone. The young nebula no longer pops against the black velvet background of the distant Universe.
Credit:NASA, ESA, B. Balick (University of Washington), M. Guerrero (Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía), and G. Ramos-Larios (Universidad de Guadalajara)
About the Image
Id: | heic2020a |
Type: | Collage |
Release date: | 3 December 2020, 16:00 |
Related releases: | heic2020 |
Size: | 3747 x 1908 px |
About the Object
Name: | Stingray Nebula |
Type: | Milky Way : Nebula : Type : Planetary |
Category: | Nebulae |
Wallpapers
Colours & filters
Band | Wavelength | Telescope |
---|---|---|
Optical O III | 502 nm |
Hubble Space Telescope
WFC3 |
Optical O III | 502 nm |
Hubble Space Telescope
WFPC2 |
Optical H-alpha | 656 nm |
Hubble Space Telescope
WFC3 |
Optical H-alpha | 656 nm |
Hubble Space Telescope
WFPC2 |
Optical N II | 658 nm |
Hubble Space Telescope
WFC3 |
Optical N II | 658 nm |
Hubble Space Telescope
WFPC2 |