Helix-Shaped Nebula Discovered

[Yuzza]

Just got an interesting article from Universe Today

Astronomers have discovered an unusual helix-shaped nebula near the centre of the Milky Way. This peculiar nebula stretches 80 light years, and looks like the classic image of a DNA molecule. The nebula formed because it's so close to the supermassive black hole at the heart of the Milky Way, which has a very powerful magnetic field. This field isn't as powerful as the one surrounding the Sun, but it's enormous, containing a tremendous amount of energy. It's enough to reach out this incredible distance and twist up this gas cloud with its field lines.


Full story from
http://www.universetoday.com/am/publ...x.html?1532006

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Thanks for the info.

[astroron (Ron)]

Quite a fasinating object, who knows what else we are going to find in the Galactic centre as the telescopes and instramentation improve ? do you notice the star with all the little planets circling it in the lower right hand corner?