A mysterious object in space MyCn 18
91The Mysteries of the MyCn 18 Nebula (Hourglass Nebula)
MyCn 18 isn't just beautiful—it's full of cosmic enigmas that still challenge astronomers. Here are some of the main mysteries surrounding this planetary nebula:
🌌 1. Near-Perfect Symmetry
The hourglass shape is incredibly symmetrical, which raises the question: how can a dying star expel gas so precisely?
The most widely accepted hypothesis is that fast stellar winds collide with a denser cloud at the star's equator, shaping this structure.
💫 2. Formation of the Colorful Rings
The delicate rings of gas—nitrogen (red), hydrogen (green), and oxygen (blue)—appear to form thin, well-defined walls.
The exact origin of this separation of elements and the geometry of the rings is still being studied based on high-resolution Hubble images.
🧊 3. The Central Star
The star's core became a white dwarf, but its gravitational and magnetic influence may have shaped the nebula in a more complex way than previously thought.
There is speculation about the presence of an invisible companion star, which could have influenced the symmetry of the gas ejection.
🧠 4. Why is it so different from other nebulae?
Compared to other planetary nebulae, MyCn 18 has a much more defined and artistic structure.
This raises questions about variations in chemical composition, stellar wind speeds, and even interactions with magnetic fields.
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