Comments on: A dying star with the wind in its hair

By: Universal Photoshoot « Cosmologistics

Universal Photoshoot « Cosmologistics — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 06:32:40 +0000

[...] Astronomy also reported a beautiful image of a star death. The photograph is of planetary nebula Abell 31. The post was conveniently made on February 13, just in time for Valentine’s Day. With an [...]

By: You Are Jeff | Whimsy Speaks

You Are Jeff | Whimsy Speaks — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 04:24:20 +0000

[...] Gratuitous dying star photo. [...]

By: Old Rockin' Dave

Old Rockin' Dave — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:39:49 +0000

If they had just observed a little longer, I’m sure this is what they would have seen:
http://www.sliceofscifi.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/bakerwho.jpg

By: Nigel Depledge

Nigel Depledge — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 09:58:31 +0000

Davem (9) said:

I see that you use kilometres instead of miles; this is good! So can we drop Fahrenheit (meaningless), and Centigrade (old fashioned) and do stuff in Celsius please?

I don’t mind the use of Fahrenheit as a parenthetical comment following the actual measurement, in the same way I don’t mind the use of miles parenthetically following a comment in km.

However, I do agree that Centigrade should cease to be used, as I state above.

By: Nigel Depledge

Nigel Depledge — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 09:56:21 +0000

I second the notion that you should cease referring to degrees Centigrade.

Either use Celsius or Kelvin.

But that is such a cool shot.

By: Mandarb

Mandarb — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 08:35:06 +0000

My version of pareidolia in this image is Leonardo da Vinci on the left, and maybe a griffin’s or a chicken’s face on the right.

By: þorfinn

þorfinn — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:09:06 +0000

You should ensure that your naming of units is following the definition.
The change to “degree Celsius” (symbol: °C) occurred in 1948

By: Jay

Jay — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 00:09:05 +0000

Edgar Winter works, but I see either Leon Russel or Billy Gibbons.

By: Drew

Drew — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 21:42:26 +0000

Great image!

By: Chris A.

Chris A. — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 20:50:40 +0000

This gets me to wondering what such a nebula would look like if its motion was entirely radial (i.e. coming straight towards us or going directly away from us), and on the flip side, how close this one is to having zero radial velocity given the sharply defined leading edge (which, presumably, would become less sharply defined as its velocity vector got closer to being parallel to the line of sight).

By: Sean H.

Sean H. — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 20:50:36 +0000

Very cool, although all I could see is this: http://i.imgur.com/aDWOm.gif
…And now you are all stuck seeing it too.

By: RAF

RAF — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 19:51:22 +0000

That is such a cool image…your explanation was excellent, Phil.

…and something you had never encountered?….that’s just WOW.

By: davem

davem — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 18:36:07 +0000

85,000° Centigrade (150,000°F)!

Dear BA, could we be a little more scientific in this ‘ere blog? I see that you use kilometres instead of miles; this is good! So can we drop Fahrenheit (meaningless), and Centigrade (old fashioned) and do stuff in Celsius please?

Oh, and the picture’s awesome…

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but how do you make a 21 hour exposure from the ground?

Over several nights? That’d be my guess.

By: Jose

Jose — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:20:03 +0000

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but how do you make a 21 hour exposure from the ground? is it a composition of many pictures of shorter exposures that eventually sum up to 21 hours? I’m a little confused hehe

By: Joe Shuster

Joe Shuster — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:57:08 +0000

Beautiful. Looks like we’re seeing it headed downward about 20-30 degrees to the plane of the image, so the closer (bottom) edge is visible while the farther (upper) edge is blocked by the core nebula. Like looking at a departing jellyfish.

Redshift measurements could show the real motion vector.

By: Nathan Hevenstone

Nathan Hevenstone — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:32:03 +0000

Wow. Thank you. Now if I could just find the uncompressed .tif file…

Anyone? Phil? Please?

*begs*

By: MartinHajovsky (@MartinHajovsky)

MartinHajovsky (@MartinHajovsky) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:10:38 +0000

Ganzy, that’s not James Randi. It’s clearly Edgar Winter getting a Free Ride.

By: Ganzy

Ganzy — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:55:58 +0000

Wow, ennebulenated this is a real beauty! Here’s my new desktop background for the next few weeks. Thanks.

By: Ganzy

Ganzy — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:44:24 +0000

Ohh come on, is this a joke? Don’t tell me you can’t see James Randi on the left there sporting a pink tinged beard and lovingly framed in cerise!

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:45:43 +0000

Wow, this is unknown. There isn’t even a Wikipedia entry! Although there is one in Italian

By: Messier Tidy Upper

Messier Tidy Upper — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:38:57 +0000

A glimpse into Mira’s future given its velocity and comet like – but stellar material – tail maybe?

Or even, if its moving fast enough, our own Suns?

Wonderful image and object.

PS. Mira article by the BA linked to my name here.