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A Fireworks Display in the Helix Nebula

A Fireworks Display in the Helix Nebula

July 2, 2009

Astronomers at the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan and at universities in the UK and the USA have revealed new features in molecular hydrogen emissions in the Helix Nebula, a planetary nebula (PN). Optical images tracing ionized gas show that the nebula is filled with diffuse gas. In contrast, a new, near-infrared image of molecular hydrogen emissions revealed that the nebula has comet-shaped knots within it...

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