Abell 39: A planetary nebula and the most perfect sphere in the night sky

Abell 39: A planetary nebula and the most perfect sphere in the night sky

Discover the mesmerizing beauty of Abell 39, a planetary nebula renowned for its stunning spherical shape. While many nebulae are complex and chaotic, Abell 39 stands out as a rare gem in the night sky. This article delves into the fascinating evolution of stars, from their fiery beginnings as main sequence stars to their transformation into white dwarfs and the breathtaking nebulae they leave behind. Join us on a journey through the cosmos, exploring the intricate processes that create these celestial wonders and the vital role they play in the universe’s grand tapestry.

The Sunflower Galaxy and Dynamic Complexities

The Sunflower Galaxy and Dynamic Complexities

At first glance, Messier 63 (M63 for short or aka “the Sunflower Galaxy”) appears to be a break from the traditional spiral structure of galaxies and represent a new type of galaxy termed a “flocculent” class.  It was thought that the stars formed clumpy clouds gathered together as clumps, like strands of wool form clumps of wool – even on the sheep.    In chemical engineering, we often use agents that make particles suspended in a fluid clump together to form larger particles ,so that gravity can overcome the suspension and separate the particles from the fluid.   I like to thing that the word flocculate (or its sorter “floc”) comes from the word “flock”, as in a flock of sheep,