Helix Nebula: Ultraviolet, Visible and Infrared Views

Stars like our Sun end their lives by casting off their outer layers, briefly forming a spectacular "planetary nebula" like the Helix Nebula. In visible light, we see the glow of hot gases illuminated by a hot, compact core, known as a "white dwarf." Shifting into the near-infrared reveals the glow of more complex molecules formed in the outer shell. The mid-infrared glow highlights the warm (bright red) dust surrounding the white dwarf.

Optical: Hot gas ejected from a dying star glows.

Near-Infrared: Near-infrared light reveals cooler material.

Mid-far-Infrared: Warm dust is identified in mid-infrared light.

Infrared-Ultraviolet: The ultraviolet light traces the hot gas being expelled from the dying star.