Formation of the Helix Nebula

Collision of Gases Near a Dying Star in the Helix Nebula

This colorful image from the Hubble Space Telescope shows the collision of two gases near a dying star. Astronomers have dubbed the tadpole-like objects in the upper right-hand corner "cometary knots" because their glowing heads and gossamer tails resemble comets. Although...

Comet-Like Knots Around a Dying Star in the Helix Nebula

These gigantic, tadpole-shaped objects are probably the result of a dying star's last gasps. Dubbed "cometary knots" because their glowing heads and gossamer tails resemble comets, the gaseous objects probably were formed during a star's final stages of life. Hubble astronomer...

Location of HST Image of Helix Nebula in a Larger Ground-Based View