Spirograph Nebula: A Century of Stellar Change

Astronomers have tracked the Spirograph Nebula’s evolution over 130 years, from 19th-century spectroscopy to Hubble’s sharp images.

The central star has heated up by 3,000°C—faster than most stars but slower than theory predicts. This surprising pace, along with its lower-than-expected mass, could reshape models of how stars create and spread cosmic carbon.

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