8legs: Helix nebula, space

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Star’s Final Breath Appears Like Columns of Smoke in Breathtaking New James Webb Image

Webb captures the Helix Nebula’s final breath as the dying star releases gas and dust in a striking, iridescent display.
New Webb imagery shows a blue-hot to red-cool gas gradient in a ring-like nebula shaped like an iris.
Webb’s NIRCam imaging delivers detail beyond prior observations, aided by ground-based VISTA data.
NASA explains the Helix Nebula’s colors show the star’s final breath becoming ingredients for new worlds.
The Helix Nebula lies about 650 light-years from Earth and has been visible to observers for two centuries.
The image pair combines Webb data with ESO and VISTA imagery to show material moving toward space as it cools and disperses.
NASA describes the Helix Nebula as a white dwarf in late stages of life, contributing materials for future star formation.
The Helix Nebula is compared to the Eye of Sauron from The Lord of the Rings in earlier imagery.
The image underscores Webb’s ability to reveal how stars enrich future planetary systems.

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