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Collection:
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NASA Spitzer Space Telescope Collection
Collection
NASA Spitzer Space Telescope Collection
Collection
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Title:
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The Infrared Helix
Title
The Infrared Helix
Title
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Description:
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The Helix Nebula, which is composed of gaseous shells and disks puffed out by a dying sunlike star, exhibits complex structure on the smallest visible scales. In this new image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, infrared light at wavelengths of 3.2, 4.5, and 8.0 microns has been colored blue, green, and red (respectively). The color saturation also has been increased to intensify hues. The "cometary knots" show blue-green heads due to excitation of their molecular material from shocks or ultraviolet radiation. The tails of the cometary knots appear redder due to being shielded from the central star's ultraviolet radiation and wind by the heads of the knots.
Description
The Helix Nebula, which is composed of gaseous shells and disks puffed out by a dying sunlike star, exhibits complex structure on the smallest visible scales. In this new image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, infrared light at wavelengths of 3.2, 4.5, and 8.0 microns has been colored blue, green, and red (respectively). The color saturation also has been increased to intensify hues. The "cometary knots" show blue-green heads due to excitation of their molecular material from shocks or ultraviolet radiation. The tails of the cometary knots appear redder due to being shielded from the central star's ultraviolet radiation and wind by the heads of the knots.
Description
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Release Date:
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2006/01/09
Release_Date
2006/01/09
Release Date
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Press Release:
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Press_Release
Press Release
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Release Credit:
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NASA/JPL-Caltech/J. Hora (Harvard-Smithsonian CfA)
Release_Credit
NASA/JPL-Caltech/J. Hora (Harvard-Smithsonian CfA)
Release Credit
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Image Credit:
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NASA/JPL-Caltech/ J. Hora (Harvard-Smithsonian CfA)
Image_Credit
NASA/JPL-Caltech/ J. Hora (Harvard-Smithsonian CfA)
Image Credit
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Object name:
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Helix Nebula
Object_name
Helix Nebula
Object name
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Object name:
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NGC 7293
Object_name
NGC 7293
Object name
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Object type:
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Planetary Nebula
Object_type
Planetary Nebula
Object type
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Position (J2000):
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*RA: *22h29m38.55s *Dec: *-20d49m26.00s
Position_(J2000)
*RA: *22h29m38.55s *Dec: *-20d49m26.00s
Position (J2000)
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Distance:
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650 light-years (200 parsecs)
Distance
650 light-years (200 parsecs)
Distance
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Constellation:
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Aquarius
Constellation
Aquarius
Constellation
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Wavelength:
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3.6 microns (blue), 4.5 microns (green), 8.0 microns (red)
Wavelength
3.6 microns (blue), 4.5 microns (green), 8.0 microns (red)
Wavelength
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Image scale:
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19.8x23.1 arcmin
Image_scale
19.8x23.1 arcmin
Image scale
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Observers:
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J. L. Hora (CfA)
W. B. Latter (NASA/ Herschel Science Center)
M. Marengo (CfA)
G.G. Fazio (CfA)
H.A. Smith (CfA)
Observers
J. L. Hora (CfA)
W. B. Latter (NASA/ Herschel Science Center)
M. Marengo (CfA)
G.G. Fazio (CfA)
H.A. Smith (CfA)
Observers
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Instrument:
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IRAC
Instrument
IRAC
Instrument
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Exposure Date:
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October 30, 2004
Exposure_Date
October 30, 2004
Exposure Date
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Exposure Time:
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160 s per position
Exposure_Time
160 s per position
Exposure Time
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Orientation:
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north is 60.9 dec CW from up
Orientation
north is 60.9 dec CW from up
Orientation
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Related links:
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Related_links
Related links
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note:
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*Unpackaged, full-field image* Screen-Resolution (387x450): JPEG [ http://ipac.jpl.nas…ssc2006-01a1_small.j pg ] High-Resolution (2977x3465): JPEG | Mac TIFF | PC TIFF Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/J. Hora (Harvard-Smithsonian CfA)
note
*Unpackaged, full-field image* Screen-Resolution (387x450): JPEG [ http://ipac.jpl.nas…ssc2006-01a1_small.j pg ] High-Resolution (2977x3465): JPEG | Mac TIFF | PC TIFF Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/J. Hora (Harvard-Smithsonian CfA) note
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facet_what:
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Spitzer Space Telescope
facet_what
Spitzer Space Telescope
facet_what
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facet_what:
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Aquarius
facet_what
Aquarius
facet_what
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facet_what:
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Infrared Array Camera (IRAC)
facet_what
Infrared Array Camera (IRAC)
facet_what
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facet_where:
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Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
facet_where
Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
facet_where
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facet_where:
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Washington, D.C.
facet_where
Washington, D.C.
facet_where
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facet_when:
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October 30, 2004
facet_when
October 30, 2004
facet_when
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facet_when_year:
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2004
facet_when_year
2004
facet_when_year
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Image #:
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ssc2006-01a
Image_#
ssc2006-01a
Image #
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original url:
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original_url
original url
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UID:
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SPD-SPITZ-ssc2006-01 a
UID
SPD-SPITZ-ssc2006-01 a
UID
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