Posted by on Apr 23, 2016 in Main |

P1400739

‘The formation of Planetary Nebula’ is part of the research undertaken by the guest speaker at Keighley Astronomical societies April monthly meeting.
Prof Albert Zijlstra from The School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Manchester. His previous position from 2010 until last year was as the Director of the Jodrell Bank Center for Astrophysics.
In an expertly delivered presentation with some of the most spectacular images presented to the society prof Zijlstra explained that the mechanism for formation of most planetary nebulae is thought to be the following the end of the star’s life, during the red giant phase, the outer layers of the star are expelled by strongstellar winds. After most of the red giant’s atmosphere is dissipated, the ultraviolet radiation the hot luminous core emits ionizes the ejected outer layers of the star. Absorbed ultraviolet light energises the shell of nebulous gas around the central star, causing it to appear as a brightly coloured planetary nebula.

heic0407a

P1400730 - Copy

2000px-Solar_Life_Cycle.svg

P1400732

star-formation

P1400733

P1400736

P1400737