This group is setup to discuss the Georgia Sky View star party. Any questions, suggestions, complaints or just comments in general about the Georgia Sky View are welcome here.


August 16, 2011 -- What happens when a star runs out of nuclear fuel? For stars about the mass of our Sun, the center condenses into a white dwarf while the outer atmospheric layers are expelled into space and appear as a planetary nebula. This particular planetary nebula, pictured above and designated Shapley 1 after the famous astronomer Harlow Shapley, has a very apparent annular ring like structure. Although some of these nebulas appear like planets on the sky (hence their name), they actually surround stars far outside our Solar System.

Source: ESO

http://www.flintriverastronomy.org/frac/GSV2012.htm

Check out the video at: http://vimeo.com/37568624