Fact of the Day: 06/01/2023

Chances are, you’ve heard, or at least seen a picture, of the Crab Nebula. The reason for its fame is fairly obvious—its stunning array of colors and expansive shape make it a spectacle to behold. Did you know there’s a lesser-known nebula called the Southern Crab Nebula? While not related to the Crab Nebula, it is just as spectacular. Officially called Hen 2-104, it is located in the constellation Centaurus, a few thousand light-years away (par. 2). It consists of a binary system of two stars, one a red giant and the other a white dwarf, who, together, have created structures that resemble an hourglass. To see what it looks like (because no description could do it justice), check out the link at the end of this fact. It truly is astonishing how much beauty the universe has to offer.

Reference(s): https://hubblesite.org/contents/media/images/2019/15/4384-Image.html 

Fact Author: Ace

Fact Editor: Ace

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