Red Square Nebula

The "Red Square Nebula" is a celestial object located in the area of the sky occupied by star MWC 922. The first images of this bipolar nebula, taken using the Mt Palomar Hale telescope in California, were released in April 2007. It is notable for its square shape, which according to Sydney University astrophysicist Peter Tuthill, makes it one of the most symmetrical celestial objects ever discovered.

The explanation proposed by Tuthill and his collaborator James Lloyd of Cornell University claims that the shape arises from two cone shapes placed tip-to-tip. This also explains the "double-ring" structure seen in SN 1987A.

Towards the end of their lives, many low-mass stars, like the Sun, slough off their outer layers to produce striking 'planetary' nebulae. But the hot star at the heart of the Red Square nebula, called MWC 922, appears to be relatively massive, suggesting another process formed its signature shape. [cite news |first=Anna |last=Saleh|title=Dazzling red square found in space |url=http://abc.net.au/science/news/stories/2007/1895422.htm?space |work=ABC Science Online |date=2007-04-13 |accessdate=2007-04-16 ]

In 2007, a finalist team in the Australian Sharemarket game was named after the renown nebula. Due to the teams great performance and success, the nebula has been label a bringer of success and good luck. "We believed that from the Red Square Nebula's striking shape and rare display of symmetry that it would bring us good luck, and it did!" Quoted by one of members of the Red Square Team.Since the impressive performance of the team, many others have used the legendary nebula as a good luck charm including the newly formed "Red Square Wildlife Protection Agency" and a recently constructed yacht named "Red Square I".

References

* Harvard reference
Surname1 = Dayton
Given1 = Leigh
Title = It's hip to be square in a nebula (Retrieved April 13, 2007)
Journal = The Australian
Year = 2007
URL = http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21547338-2,00.html

Citations

See also

* Red Rectangle Nebula
* Nebula

External links

* [http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/070412_symmetrical_nebula.html "Near-Perfect Symmetry Revealed in Red Cosmic Square" space.com (12 April 2007)]
* [http://www.physorg.com/news95692359.html "Astronomers Obtain Highly Detailed Image of the 'Red Square'" physorg.com (13 April 2007)]
* [http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/316/5822/247 Abstract of "A symmetric bipolar nebula around MWC 922" by Peter Tuthill, in "Science" (13 April 2007)]