M2-9 Butterfly Nebula
This image reveals remarkable details in the dynamic gas outflows from a dying star. It is thought that our Sun might meet a similar fate in 4-5 billion years once its hydrogen nuclear fuel becomes scarce and instabilities expel gas into space. The concentric shells of gas are still a mystery to astronomers and these data will help to understand the complexities surrounding this beautiful object.
| Observatory: | Gemini Observatory (North) Mauna Kea, Hawai'i |
|---|---|
| Telescope: | Gemini North |
| Instrument: | NIRI |
| Astronomer: | Gemini Observatory and T. A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage) |
| Date of Observation: | 09-29-2005 |
| Filters and Assigned Colors: | K' (green), K+H2=1-0 (violet) and Fell (orange) |
| Exposure Times: | 5x30sec in K', 5x180sec each in K+H2=1-0 and Fell |
| Location of Image: | Ophiuchus |
| Field of View: | 38.5 x 42.5 arcsec |
| Orientation: | |
| Link to Full Resolution Image | |
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