Astronomers using the FORS (FOcal Reducer and low dispersion Spectrograph) instrument on ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) have obtained a stunning image of the planetary nebula NGC 2899. This object has never before been imaged in such striking detail, with even the faint outer edges of NGC 2899 glowing over the background stars.
This highly detailed image of the planetary nebula NGC 2899 was captured using the FORS instrument on ESO’s Very Large Telescope. Image credit: ESO.
Unlike what their common name suggests, planetary nebulae have nothing to do with planets.
The first astronomers to observe these objects merely described them as planet-like in appearance.
They are instead formed when ancient stars with up to 6 times the mass of our Sun reach the end of their lives, collapse, and blow off expanding shells of gas, rich in heavy elements.
Intense ultraviolet radiation energizes and lights up these moving shells, causing them to shine brightly for thousands of years until they ultimately disperse slowly through space, making planetary nebulae relatively short-lived phenomena on astronomical timescales.
NGC 2899 is located between 3,000 and 6,500 light-years away in the southern constellation of Vela.
Also known as Gum 27, ESO 166-13, Hen 2-30 and PN G277.1-03.8, the nebula was discovered by the English astronomer John Herschel on February 27, 1835.
NGC 2899’s vast swathes of gas extend up to a maximum of two light-years from its center, glowing brightly in front of the stars of the Milky Way as the gas reaches temperatures upwards of 10,000 degrees Celsius.
The high temperatures are due to the large amount of radiation from the nebula’s parent star, which causes the hydrogen gas in the nebula to glow in a reddish halo around the oxygen gas, in blue.
NGC 2899 has two central stars, which are believed to give it its nearly symmetric appearance.
After one star reached the end of its life and cast off its outer layers, the other star now interferes with the flow of gas, forming the two-lobed shape seen here.
Only about 10-20% of planetary nebulae display this type of bipolar shape.
The team of ESO astronomers were able to capture this highly detailed image of NGC 2899 using the FORS instrument installed on UT1 (Antu), one of the four 8.2-m telescopes that make up VLT.
This high-resolution instrument was one of the first to be installed on VLT and is behind numerous beautiful images and discoveries from ESO.
