Synopses & Reviews
Using more than 100 spectacular images from the Hubble Space Telescope, Kwok details the discovery process of the creation of planetary nebulae and of the future of the Earth's Sun.
Synopsis
At the end of a star's life, it wraps itself in a cocoon by spilling out gas and dust; later, a butterfly emerges and develops into a planetary nebula. This book, illustrated in colour throughout, tells the story of the creation of planetary nebulae and the future of the Sun.
Synopsis
Planetary nebulae are among the most beautiful of the celestial objects imaged by the Hubble Space Telescope. Their structures are complemented by a kaleidoscope of color emitted by glowing gases. The production of a planetary nebula by a star is a milestone in the life of a star, an event that foretells the doom of the star when its central energy source runs out. This book, illustrated in colour throughout, tells the story of the creation of planetary nebulae and of the future of the Sun.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. [169]-170) and index.
About the Author
Dr. Sun Kwok, professor of astronomy and Canada Council Killam Fellow, is a leading world expert in planetary nebulae. He serves as the chairman of the Planetary Nebulae Working Group of the International Astronomical Union, and is the co-chair of the 2001 IAU symposium on planetary nebulae in Canberra, Australia.
Table of Contents
1. Planetary nebulae - the last hurrah in the life of a star; 2. The shapes and colors of planetary nebulae; 3. How do planetary nebulae shine?; 4. The young and old; 5. Where do planetary nebulae come from and what will they become?; 6. The end of lives of stars: white dwarfs, neutron stars, or black holes?; 7. What is the source of power; 8. Star dust; 9. Gone with the wind; 10. Not with a bang but a whimper; 11. A morphological menagerie; 12. Butterflies in the sky; 13. The missing link; 14. Stellar metamorphosis; 15. Unsolved mysteries; 16. How many are there?; 17. Measuring the size and mass of the universe with planetary nebulae; 18. Old stars as molecular factories; 19. Do we owe our lives to planetary nebulae; 20. Glossary; 21. Some commonly observed planetary nebulae; 22. Further readings; 23. Notes on images.