The term “planetary nebulae” is a misnomer; they are unrelated to planets. The term was most likely initially utilized in the 1780s by astronomer William Herschel, who noted their apparently round, planet-like shape when observed through early telescopes.
The Progenitor Star.
At the heart of the Toby Jug Nebula is its progenitor, the red-giant star HR3126. Red giants form when a star burns through its supply of hydrogen in its core. Without the outside force of fusion, the star begins to contract.
Nebula Formation.
As HR 3126 swelled, its environment broadened and it started to shed its external layers. The expelled outstanding material streamed out into the surrounding location, forming a stunning structure of gas and dust that shows the light from the main star. Detailed studies of the Toby Jug Nebula in infrared light have exposed that silicon dioxide (silica) is the most likely compound reflecting HR3126s light.
Theory and Observations.
Astronomers think that bipolar structures comparable to those seen in the Toby Jug Nebula are the result of interactions between the central red giant and a binary companion star. Previous observations, however, discovered no such buddy to HR3126. Instead, astronomers observed a very compact disk of material around the main star. This finding recommends that a former binary buddy was perhaps shredded into the disk, which may have triggered the development of the surrounding nebula.
Future Implications.
In around five billion years from now, when our Sun has actually burned through its supply of hydrogen, it too will become a red giant and eventually develop into a planetary nebula. In the very far-off future, all that will be left of our Solar System will be a nebula as dynamic as the Toby Jug Nebula with the slowly cooling Sun at its heart.
Notes.
The image was processed by NOIRLabs Communication, Education & & Engagement team as part of the NOIRLab Legacy Imaging Program. The observations were made with Gemini South on Cerro Pachón in Chile using among the dual Gemini Multi-Object Spectrographs (GMOS). Though spectrographs are developed to split light into various wavelengths for research study, the GMOS spectrographs likewise have effective imaging abilities, as shown by this remarkable view of the Toby Jug Nebula.
A billowing pair of nearly in proportion loops of dust and gas mark the death throes of an ancient red-giant star, as recorded by Gemini South, one half of the International Gemini Observatory. Credit: International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/ AURA, T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage/NSFs NOIRLab), J. Miller (Gemini Observatory/NSFs NOIRLab), M. Rodriguez (Gemini Observatory/NSFs NOIRLab), M. Zamani (NSFs NOIRLab).
The Toby Jug Nebula, a special bipolar reflection nebula, was caught by the Gemini South telescope and offers important insights into the evolution of red giants, including our Suns future transformation.
Nicknamed the Toby Jug Nebula owing to its resemblance to an old English drinking vessel, the glowing nebula IC 2220 is an unusual huge discover. This reflection nebula, situated around 1,200 light-years away in the direction of the constellation Carina (the keel), is a double-lobed, or bipolar, cloud of gas and dust created and brightened by the red-giant star at its center. This end-of-life phase of red giant stars is reasonably brief, and the celestial structures that form around them are uncommon, making the Toby Jug Nebula an excellent case study into excellent evolution.
Image and Insights.
This image, captured by the Gemini South telescope, one half of the International Gemini Observatory, run by NSFs NOIRLab, showcases the Toby Jug Nebulas splendid, nearly in proportion double-looped structure and glowing outstanding heart.
A billowing set of almost balanced loops of dust and gas mark the death throes of an ancient red-giant star, as captured by Gemini South, one half of the International Gemini Observatory. Credit: International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/ AURA, T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage/NSFs NOIRLab), J. Miller (Gemini Observatory/NSFs NOIRLab), M. Rodriguez (Gemini Observatory/NSFs NOIRLab), M. Zamani (NSFs NOIRLab).
Nicknamed the Toby Jug Nebula owing to its resemblance to an old English drinking vessel, the glowing nebula IC 2220 is an unusual huge find. This image, caught by the Gemini South telescope, one half of the International Gemini Observatory, run by NSFs NOIRLab, showcases the Toby Jug Nebulas stunning, nearly balanced double-looped structure and radiant excellent heart. The observations were made with Gemini South on Cerro Pachón in Chile using one of the double Gemini Multi-Object Spectrographs (GMOS).