April 12, 2007
1 min read
Add Us On GoogleAdd SciAmRed Square in Space
Astronomers have spotted a scintillating square-shaped nebula nestled in the vast sea of stars. Combining infrared data from the Hale Telescope at Palomar Observatory and the Keck 2 Telescope in Hawaii, researchers have characterized the remarkably symmetrical "Red Square" nebula as a central star (MWC 922) illuminating twin cones of outflowing gas.
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Astronomers have spotted a scintillating square-shaped nebula nestled in the vast sea of stars. Combining infrared data from the Hale Telescope at Palomar Observatory and the Keck 2 Telescope in Hawaii, researchers have characterized the remarkably symmetrical "Red Square" nebula as a central star (MWC 922) illuminating twin cones of outflowing gas. Their work is published in the April 13 issue of Science.
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