Gallery: Amazing Nebula Photos From Chandra & Hubble

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Optical Image of NGC 7009

X-ray: NASA/CXC/RIT/J.Kastner et al.; Optical: NASA/STScI

A wind from the hot core rams into the ejected atmosphere, creating the shell-like filamentary structures seen with optical telescopes. This image was released Oct. 10, 2012.

Planetary Nebula NGC 6826

X-ray: NASA/CXC/RIT/J.Kastner et al.; Optical: NASA/STScI

This image is of planetary nebula NGC 6826. A planetary nebula is a phase of stellar evolution that the sun should experience several billion years from now, when it expands to become a red giant and then sheds most of its outer layers, leaving behind a hot core that contracts to form a dense white dwarf star. This image was released Oct. 10, 2012.

X-ray Emission Image of NGC 6826

X-ray: NASA/CXC/RIT/J.Kastner et al.; Optical: NASA/STScI

The diffuse X-ray emission of NGC 6826 is caused by shock waves as the wind collides with the ejected atmosphere. This image was released Oct. 10, 2012.

Optical Emission of Planetary Nebula NGC 6826

X-ray: NASA/CXC/RIT/J.Kastner et al.; Optical: NASA/STScI

Optical emission of NGC 6826 from the Hubble Space Telescope is colored red, green and blue. This image was released Oct. 10, 2012.

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Space.com Staff
Space.com Staff
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