Astronomers find 'diamond engagement ring' in space (big space pic)

[n2doc]

(CNN) -- Planetary nebula Abell 33 has taken on romantic proportions.

The European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope has captured a spectacular image of a planetary nebula aligned with a star in such a way that it looks like a diamond engagement ring.

Abell 33 came from a star that's going to become a white dwarf, which is one way that a star can evolve at the end of its life. White dwarfs are small, dense and hot, and they cool down over billions of years.

The star entering this last phase of its life blows off its atmosphere into space. This results in glowing gas clouds known as planetary nebulae, such as this one that looks like a round bubble or ring.

In the image, the original star appears in the center of the blue bubble. It is more luminous than our sun, and its ultraviolet radiation gives a glow to the ring of atmosphere that has been cast out. Scientists are not yet sure if it's actually a double star or just a chance alignment in the image.

more

http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/09/tech/innovation/diamond-ring-astronomy/

http://www.eso.org/public/news/eso1412/

[progressoid]

1. Space.com's video about it. (with a little Joe Satriani)

[lastlib]

2. "This diamond ring doesn't shine for me anymore,..."

"...and this diamond ring doesn't do what it did before....."

[oldandhappy]

3. thanks!!!

Great post. Great image.

[MyNameGoesHere]

4. These type of things

are about as interesting as jesus image in a piece of toast, "amazing" photos.