Helix Nebula, Ultraviolet, Visible, and Infrared Views

Stars like our Sun end their lives by casting off their outer layers, briefly forming a spectacular "planetary nebula" like the Helix Nebula. In visible light, we see the glow of hot gases illuminated by a hot, compact core, known as a "white dwarf." Shifting into the near-infrared reveals the glow of more complex molecules formed in the outer shell. The mid-infrared glow highlights the warm (bright red) dust surrounding the white dwarf.

OPTICAL: Hot gas ejected from a dying star glows.

NEAR-INFRARED: Near-infrared light reveals cooler material.

MID-FAR-INFRARED: Warm dust is identified in mid-infrared light.

INFRARED-ULTRAVIOLET: The ultraviolet light traces the hot gas being expelled from the dying star.

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