Comments on: Planets Might Actually Shape Planetary Nebulae (plus a gallery)

By: naafidz

naafidz — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 12:35:58 +0000

subhanallah, Allahuakbar! what a beautiful images

By: Dark Gnat

Dark Gnat — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 15:30:08 +0000

The reason that most of the exoplanets that have been detected are close to their stars is because those are the easiest ones to detect. Observational bias.

No doubt, there should be planets around some of the stars that are shedding matter. It isn't unreasonable to think that they may interact with the material, and it is very feasible that strange patterns would occur as a result.

Hopefully, additional observations can give us better clues to the dynamics of these objects.

Side note: I think the term "planetary nebula" is misleading, and should be replaced with Expulsion nebula, or something similar.

By: Paddy Really

Paddy Really — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 15:14:31 +0000

Absolutely stunned! Thank you, thank you, thank, you.

By: Linda Langston

Linda Langston — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 14:34:40 +0000

WOW!!! Creator of the Universe………..

Thank you for giving men & women the wisdom and knowledge to get information like this to us who could never enjoy it otherwise. Thank you for Universe Today and for such beauty!

Jesus is the Mind behind all the great minds.

JESUS IS LORD!!!

By: john

john — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 12:38:23 +0000

what a beautiful set of photographs.
thanks

By: Andrew

Andrew — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 09:07:15 +0000

I have some serious doubts about this theory, mainly because we really still don't know the full mechanism of their formation. Most of these examples are of bipolar planetary nebulae, which are different than ordinary planetaries.
The effects are more likely due to the close stellar companions, magnetic fields and rotation of the star itself. The loss of material from the star starts well before the planetary nebulae phase starts, when an AGB (Asymptotic Giant Branch) stars discards the outer atmosphere of the star into interstellar space via strong winds prior to the exposure of the hot white dwarf that illuminate the nebulae of the planetary itself.
Nonetheless, the existence of planets surround surrounding stars seems to predicate that they also exist around stars through the planetary nebulae phase. However, the effects of these are doubtful, as the size of a Jupiter-like object compare to the highly pregnant red-giant is literally insignificant. Furthermore, I am unaware that the ionic charged solar winds radiating at such high velocities would be changed by planets, except of course by the solar winds.
Another issue is that many examples of planetaries are in the vast majority are close binary systems – which would have much great effects on the shape of the expanding nebulosity than any planet.
Still, I would doubt we will be able to prove this directly, as detecting planets around any current planetary would be possible because of the great distance of these colourful objects. It is certainly not as easy as visible stars so far being examined by current exo-planetary observers.
Anyway, this might be eventually proven in theory to be a major factor.
One thing I do agree with – planetaries sure make spectacular astronomical vistas to look at. Just looking at these images presented here take you breath away – novice and astronomer alike.

Regards,
Andrew.

Note : I have an general article on planetary nebulae that some might like to read, which explains a little more about planetaries. See;

http://homepage.mac.com/andjames/Page091.htm

By: robert burns

robert burns — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 06:04:31 +0000

Words are not quite enough !! WOW !

By: robert burns

robert burns — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 06:02:44 +0000

words will not quite be enough //?? WOW !!

By: rob

rob — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 04:14:08 +0000

that's supposed to say "thanks Fraser". Love my iPhone but its hard to proofread.

By: rob

rob — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 04:12:33 +0000

that's so interesting. Makes perfect sense too. Fraser.

By: Geoffrey Williams

Geoffrey Williams — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 00:57:34 +0000

It seems that William Herschel is even more amazing than he is generally considered, being able to "discover" planetary nebulae 30 years before he was born. Or perhaps he had a TARDIS too!

By: Eric

Eric — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 19:59:35 +0000

Those are some of the most amazing photos I've ever seen. Were those taken with the Hubbel Telescope or where they false-colored using infrared cameras?