Amazing Double Helix Formation Found (March 17, 2006)

[ChrisReid]

Occasionally we like to report on interesting discoveries in real life outer space. Geebot told us about a neat looking "double helix nebula" that was recently sighted by the Spitzer Space Telescope. The phenomenon seems to be some sort of twisting magnetic field that is pulling along debris that emits detectable infrared waves. The portion visible in the photo below is a whopping 80 light years long and is located near the galactic center. There's been no comment from the World Science Federation yet. You can read more about it here.

​

--
Original update published on March 17, 2006

 

[Delance]

If we ever put the Double Helix on a mod, this should be their icon.

 

[Ptarmigan]

Cool. I am into astronomy myself.