# @nasaartemis on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/BnL4tFlg_Z9
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/15343516-nasaartemis-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/thumbnails/c229d0c759.jpg
- **Posted:** 2018-09-01T13:47:45.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** NASA Artemis (@nasaartemis) — https://gondola.cc/nasaartemis

## Caption

Dust makes this cosmic eye look red. This Spitzer Space Telescope image shows infrared radiation from the well-studied Helix Nebula (NGC 7293), which is a mere 700 light-years away in the constellation Aquarius. The two light-year diameter shroud of dust and gas around a central white dwarf has long been considered an excellent example of a planetary nebula, representing the final stages in the evolution of a sun-like star. Spitzer data show the nebula's central star is itself immersed in a surprisingly bright infrared glow. Models suggest the glow is produced by a dust debris disk. Even though the nebular material was ejected from the star many thousands of years ago, the close-in dust could be generated by collisions in a reservoir of objects analogous to our own solar system's Kuiper Belt or cometary Oort cloud. Formed in the distant planetary system, the comet-like bodies have otherwise survived even the dramatic late stages of the star's evolution. Happy #spacesaturday folks!

Image credit: NASA, JPL-Caltech, Kate Su (Steward Obs, U. Arizona) et al. 
#nasa #universe #spitzer #spacetelescope #nebula #starstuff #explore #exploration #redeye #cosmos #celestial #picoftheday

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 25,256
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- **Comments:** 105

## Tags

cosmos, starstuff, nasa, spacesaturday, picoftheday, universe, spitzer, explore, celestial, nebula, exploration, spacetelescope, redeye

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