Planetary Nebula


A planetary nebula is a glowing shell of gas and plasma that is formed by a star during the last stages of its life. As the star runs out of fuel, it sheds its outer layers, which are then ionized by the intense ultraviolet radiation from the hot core of the star. This ionization causes the gas to glow, creating a beautiful and intricate structure that can be observed with telescopes. Planetary nebulae are important objects for studying the late stages of stellar evolution, as they provide clues about the fate of stars like our Sun. They also play a role in the chemical enrichment of the interstellar medium, as the gas and dust that is ejected from the star during the planetary nebula phase can be incorporated into new stars and planets.


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