MUSE analyzes the structure of the Saturn nebula

2017/09/29 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Astrofisika
• Astronomia

The Saturn nebula or NGC 7009 has been analyzed by the MUSE stresscopy, one of the most powerful instruments of the VLT telescope. MUSE is able to receive spectroscopic information from each point of the image. Thus, he has made a map of the dust surrounding the star in the center of the nebula, which has allowed him to observe a very complex structure. Among them, an elliptical bubble inside, another outside and a halo. Also, two currents cross horizontally and in an area have detected a wave of dust. In addition, they have confirmed that the dust from the edges of the inner bubble disappears, but they still do not know why.

The Saturn nebula is about 5,000 light years away in the constellation of Aquarius.