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                        Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                                2025 July 29
     A nearly circular nebula with a blue core surrounded by small white
      knots, an orange ring and expansive red strucures. Please see the
                 explanation for more detailed information.

                          A Helix Nebula Deep Field
               Image Credit & Copyright: George Chatzifrantzis

   Explanation: Is the Helix Nebula looking at you? No, not in any
   biological sense, but it does look quite like an eye. The Helix Nebula
   is so named because it also appears that you are looking down the axis
   of a helix. In actuality, it is now understood to have a surprisingly
   complex geometry, including radial filaments and extended outer loops.
   The Helix Nebula (aka NGC 7293) is one of brightest and closest
   examples of a planetary nebula, a gas cloud created at the end of the
   life of a Sun-like star. The remnant central stellar core, destined to
   become a white dwarf star, glows in light so energetic it causes the
   previously expelled gas to fluoresce. The featured picture, taken in
   red, green, and blue but highlighted by light emitted primarily by
   hydrogen was created from 12 hours of exposure through a personal
   telescope located in Greece. A close-up of the inner edge of the Helix
   Nebula shows complex gas knots the origin of which are still being
   researched.

                   Portal Universe: Random APOD Generator
                        Tomorrow's picture: loopy Sun
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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
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