The star CW Leonis is featured in the photo highlighted today by NASA. It is a carbon star 400 light-years from Earth and is surrounded by a gaseous cloud.
The star CW Leonis is in the astrophoto highlighted by NASA this Monday (17), in an image captured by the Hubble telescope. It is 400 light-years away from us, being considered the closest carbon star to Earth.
This star appears to be surrounded by a carbon-rich gaseous cloud, with a structure formed by arcs and envelopes. It is not known for sure what is behind the structure, and you can verify it in the photo below:
The star’s orange color is the result of atmospheric carbon, coming from the star’s interior through the nuclear fusion. Because of their low gravity, these stars are able to release carbon and carbon-derived compounds into space more efficiently.
In addition to the orange envelope, the star has another curious feature: it contains rays of light and the intensity of their brightness has changed in an interval of only 15 years. Time is very short in astronomical terms, and it was caused by a process that, as yet, is unknown.
What is a carbon star?
To understand carbon stars, one must first remember the processes in intermediate-mass stars. When they run out of hydrogen reserves from nuclear fusion, the star collapses and eventually becomes a star. red giant.
Most carbon stars are of this type, which explains, in part, their reddish hue. Another reason lies in the outer layers of these stars, which scatter blue and green light; only red and orange light can pass through the barrier and reach our eyes.
Furthermore, carbon stars are variable, which means that their luminous intensity changes periodically. This variation can occur a few months, but it can also take more than a year.
Source: APOD
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Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
