Water Around a Carbon Star
September 7, 2010
This Herschel image shows IRC+10216, also known as CW Leonis -- a star rich in carbon where astronomers were surprised to find water. This color-coded image shows the star, surrounded by a clumpy envelope of dust, at three infrared wavelengths, taken by Herschel's spectral and photometric imaging receiver (SPIRE) and photodetector array camera and spectrometer (PACS). Blue shows light of 160 microns; green shows 250 microns; and red shows 350 microns.
Topics:
Herschel Space Observatory, Infrared telescopes, Space exploration, spectral and photometric imaging receiver, Environment, Carbon star, IRC +10216, Leo, Infrared, Star, Spaceflight
