Astronomy Picture of the Day

   [1]Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                               2026 August 26
   [2]A white dwarf is the bright central point of the image. An irregular
    bubble of gas surrounds it. A more diffuse cloud of gas extends past
   the bubble. Strands of dust radiate outward within the gas cloud. Stars
                      and galaxies dot the background.

                     JWST Images The Lion's Head Nebula
     Image Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI; Image Processing: Alyssa Pagan
                                   (STScI)
   Text: [3]Keighley Rockcliffe ([4]NASA [5]GSFC, [6]UMBC CSST, [7]CRESST
                                     II)

   Explanation: Are we looking at the future of our [8]Sun? The [9]James
   Webb Space Telescope captured [10]today’s composite image of the Lion’s
   Head Nebula ([11]NGC 2392) with its [12]NIRCam and [13]MIRI
   instruments. The Lion’s Head Nebula is the [14]remnant of a Sun-like
   star. This star was unable to sustain the [15]nuclear fusion in its
   core needed to remain stable. It began to shed layers of gas and dust
   into space, forming this [16]planetary nebula. A hot stellar core,
   called a [17]white dwarf, is left behind within the lion’s nose. Do not
   [18]boop this nose! Intense radiation from the white dwarf is
   [19]ionizing the gas as it expands, creating the irregular bubble that
   makes up the lion’s face. [20]Dust clumps that have survived the white
   dwarf’s radiation and a cloud of ionized gas make up the lion’s mane.
   This [21]new and more detailed view of the nebula will help humanity
   learn more about how the gas and dust interact with each other and the
   white dwarf radiation.

                  Tomorrow's picture: a waterfall of light
     __________________________________________________________________

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    Authors & editors: [33]Robert Nemiroff ([34]MTU) & [35]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([36]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Amber Straughn [37]Specific rights apply.
            [38]NASA Web Privacy, [39]Accessibility, [40]Notices;
                A service of: [41]ASD at [42]NASA / [43]GSFC,
                         [44]NASA Science Activation
                           & [45]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2608/lions_head_nebula.jpg
   3. https://kerockcliffe.com/
   4. https://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/sci/bio/keighley.e.rockcliffe
   5. https://www.nasa.gov/goddard/
   6. https://csst.umbc.edu/directory/
   7. https://cresst2.umd.edu/
   8. https://science.nasa.gov/sun/
   9. https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/
  10. https://science.nasa.gov/missions/webb/lion-nebula-roars-to-life-with-nasas-webb/
  11. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap200216.html
  12. https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/nircam/
  13. https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/mid-infrared-instrument-miri/
  14. https://science.nasa.gov/asset/webb/life-cycles-of-sun-like-and-massive-stars/
  15. https://science.nasa.gov/universe/stars/#life
  16. https://esahubble.org/wordbank/planetary-nebula/
  17. https://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/science/objects/dwarfs1.html
  18. https://www.instagram.com/reels/DVRSVzOjDXp/
  19. https://astronomy.swin.edu.au/cosmos/*/Ionisation
  20. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260804.html
  21. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap000124.html
  22. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260825.html
  23. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  24. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  25. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  26. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  27. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  28. https://apod.com/feed.rss
  29. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  30. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  31. https://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=260826
  32. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260827.html
  33. https://www.mtu.edu/physics/department/faculty/nemiroff/
  34. https://www.mtu.edu/physics/
  35. https://inspirehep.net/authors/1073087
  36. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  37. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  38. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  39. https://www.nasa.gov/general/accessibility/
  40. https://www.nasa.gov/privacy/
  41. https://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/astrophysics/
  42. https://www.nasa.gov/
  43. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  44. https://science.nasa.gov/learn/about-science-activation/
  45. http://www.mtu.edu/