The Boomerang Nebula is believed to be a star system evolving toward the planetary nebula phase. It continues to form and develop due to the outflow of gas from its core where a star in its late stage life sheds mass and emits starlight illuminating dust in the nebula. Millimeter scale dust grains mask portions of the nebula's center so most escaping visible light is in two opposing lobes forming a distinctive hourglass shape as viewed from Earth. The outflowing gas is moving outwards at a speed of about 164 km/s and expanding rapidly as it moves out into space; this gas expansion results in the nebula's unusually low temperature.
Keith Taylor and Mike Scarrott called it the "Boomerang Nebula" in 1980 after observing it with the Anglo-Australian telescope at the Siding Spring Observatory. Unable to view it with great clarity, the astronomers saw merely a slight asymmetry in the nebula's lobes suggesting a curved shape like a boomerang. The nebula was photographed in detail by the Hubble Space Telescope in 1998 revealing a more symmetric hourglass shape.
In 1995, using the 15-metre Swedish-ESO Submillimetre Telescope in Chile, astronomers measured its temperature as one degree above absolute zero (−272.15 °C).[4] This makes it the coldest place in the Universe found so far, besides laboratory-created temperatures. Even the 2.7 K background glow from the Big Bang is warmer than the nebula. It is the only naturally occurring object found so far that has a temperature lower than the background radiation.[6]
In 2013, observations of the ALMA radio interferometer revealed other features of the Boomerang Nebula.[7] The visible double lobe of the Boomerang Nebula was observed to be surrounded by a larger spherical volume of cold gas seen only in sub-millimeter radio wavelengths. The nebula's outer fringes appear to be gradually warming.
As of mid-2017, it is believed that the star at the center of the nebula is a dying red giant.[8][9]
This Hubble image was recorded using polarizing filters (analogous to polarized sunglasses) and color-coded by the angle associated with the polarized light.
Red filter applied to monochromatic 2013 ALMA data
^ abSahai, Raghvendra; Nyman, Lars-Åke (1997). "The Boomerang Nebula: The Coolest Region of the Universe?". The Astrophysical Journal. 487 (2): L155–L159. Bibcode:1997ApJ...487L.155S. doi:10.1086/310897. hdl:2014/22450.
^"The Boomerang Nebula - the coolest place in the Universe?". esa.int. ESA. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
^ abCauchi, Stephen (February 21, 2003). . The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on September 1, 2006. Retrieved February 2, 2007.
^"ALMA reveals ghostly shape of 'coldest place in the universe'". Phys.Org. Omicron Technology Limited. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
^Sahai (May 31, 2017). "The Coldest Place in the Universe: Probing the Ultra-Cold Outflow and Dusty Disk in the Boomerang Nebula". The Astrophysical Journal. The American Astronomical Society. 841 (2): 110. arXiv:1703.06929. Bibcode:2017ApJ...841..110S. doi:10.3847/1538-4357/aa6d86.
^Archived at Ghostarchive and the : "Astronomers solved the 22-year-long mystery behind the coldest place in the universe". YouTube.
^"True shape of the Boomerang". www.eso.org. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
Sahai, Raghvendra; Nyman, Lars-Åke (1997). "The Boomerang Nebula: The Coolest Region of the Universe?". The Astrophysical Journal. 487 (2): L155–L159. Bibcode:1997ApJ...487L.155S. doi:10.1086/310897. hdl:2014/22450.
Browne, Malcolm W. (June 24, 1997). "The Chilliest of Stars". The New York Times.
The Boomerang Nebula - The Coolest Place in the Universe?, ESA, 20 February 2003
Hubble's View of the Boomerang Nebula, 13 September 2005; see also Scattered Light from the Boomerang Nebula
ESA/Hubble-Boomerang Nebula
SIMBAD, Coordinates and Scientific data. January 4, 2007.
boomerang, nebula, nebula, cepheus, protoplanetary, nebula, located, light, years, away, from, earth, constellation, centaurus, also, known, nebula, catalogued, leda, 3074547, nebula, temperature, measured, making, coolest, natural, place, currently, known, un. For the Bow Tie Nebula C2 in Cepheus see NGC 40 The Boomerang Nebula is a protoplanetary nebula 2 located 5 000 light years away from Earth in the constellation Centaurus It is also known as the Bow Tie Nebula and catalogued as LEDA 3074547 3 The nebula s temperature is measured at 1 K 272 15 C 457 87 F making it the coolest natural place currently known in the Universe 4 5 6 Boomerang NebulaReflection nebulaProtoplanetary nebulaThe Boomerang Nebula as taken by Hubble Space Telescope in 2003Observation data J2000 epochRight ascension12h 44m 45 45s 1 Declination 54 31 11 4 1 Distance5 000 lyApparent dimensions V 1 445 0 724 1 ConstellationCentaurusPhysical characteristicsRadius1 lyDesignationsCentaurus Bipolar Nebula ESO 172 7 2MASS J12444609 5431133 LEDA 3074547 1 See also Lists of nebulaeThe Boomerang Nebula is believed to be a star system evolving toward the planetary nebula phase It continues to form and develop due to the outflow of gas from its core where a star in its late stage life sheds mass and emits starlight illuminating dust in the nebula Millimeter scale dust grains mask portions of the nebula s center so most escaping visible light is in two opposing lobes forming a distinctive hourglass shape as viewed from Earth The outflowing gas is moving outwards at a speed of about 164 km s and expanding rapidly as it moves out into space this gas expansion results in the nebula s unusually low temperature Keith Taylor and Mike Scarrott called it the Boomerang Nebula in 1980 after observing it with the Anglo Australian telescope at the Siding Spring Observatory Unable to view it with great clarity the astronomers saw merely a slight asymmetry in the nebula s lobes suggesting a curved shape like a boomerang The nebula was photographed in detail by the Hubble Space Telescope in 1998 revealing a more symmetric hourglass shape In 1995 using the 15 metre Swedish ESO Submillimetre Telescope in Chile astronomers measured its temperature as one degree above absolute zero 272 15 C 4 This makes it the coldest place in the Universe found so far besides laboratory created temperatures Even the 2 7 K background glow from the Big Bang is warmer than the nebula It is the only naturally occurring object found so far that has a temperature lower than the background radiation 6 In 2013 observations of the ALMA radio interferometer revealed other features of the Boomerang Nebula 7 The visible double lobe of the Boomerang Nebula was observed to be surrounded by a larger spherical volume of cold gas seen only in sub millimeter radio wavelengths The nebula s outer fringes appear to be gradually warming As of mid 2017 it is believed that the star at the center of the nebula is a dying red giant 8 9 Gallery Edit nbsp Boomerang Nebula as seen by ALMA in 2017 10 nbsp From 2017 ALMA release nbsp This Hubble image was recorded using polarizing filters analogous to polarized sunglasses and color coded by the angle associated with the polarized light nbsp Red filter applied to monochromatic 2013 ALMA dataReferences Edit a b c d Boomerang Nebula SIMBAD Centre de donnees astronomiques de Strasbourg Retrieved 21 October 2022 APOD 2007 December 28 A Beautiful Boomerang Nebula PGC 3074547 Boomerang Nebula Galaxy SKY MAP a b Sahai Raghvendra Nyman Lars Ake 1997 The Boomerang Nebula The Coolest Region of the Universe The Astrophysical Journal 487 2 L155 L159 Bibcode 1997ApJ 487L 155S doi 10 1086 310897 hdl 2014 22450 The Boomerang Nebula the coolest place in the Universe esa int ESA Retrieved 23 February 2022 a b Cauchi Stephen February 21 2003 Coolest bow tie in the universe The Sydney Morning Herald Archived from the original on September 1 2006 Retrieved February 2 2007 ALMA reveals ghostly shape of coldest place in the universe Phys Org Omicron Technology Limited Retrieved 25 October 2013 Sahai May 31 2017 The Coldest Place in the Universe Probing the Ultra Cold Outflow and Dusty Disk in the Boomerang Nebula The Astrophysical Journal The American Astronomical Society 841 2 110 arXiv 1703 06929 Bibcode 2017ApJ 841 110S doi 10 3847 1538 4357 aa6d86 Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine Astronomers solved the 22 year long mystery behind the coldest place in the universe YouTube True shape of the Boomerang www eso org Retrieved 12 June 2017 External links EditNRAO Boomerang Nebula 1 Sahai Raghvendra Nyman Lars Ake 1997 The Boomerang Nebula The Coolest Region of the Universe The Astrophysical Journal 487 2 L155 L159 Bibcode 1997ApJ 487L 155S doi 10 1086 310897 hdl 2014 22450 Browne Malcolm W June 24 1997 The Chilliest of Stars The New York Times The Boomerang Nebula The Coolest Place in the Universe ESA 20 February 2003 Hubble s View of the Boomerang Nebula 13 September 2005 see also Scattered Light from the Boomerang Nebula ESA Hubble Boomerang Nebula SIMBAD Coordinates and Scientific data January 4 2007 Portals nbsp Astronomy nbsp Stars nbsp Spaceflight nbsp Outer space nbsp Solar System Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Boomerang Nebula amp oldid 1159812894, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
