Embargoed Until: 9:20 a.m. (EST) January 13, 2000

An Expanding Bubble in Space

Astronomers, using the Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 on board NASA's Hubble Space Telescope in October and November 1997 and April 1999, imaged the Bubble Nebula (NGC 7635) with unprecedented clarity. For the first time, they are able to understand the geometry and dynamics of this very complicated system. Earlier pictures taken of the nebula with the Wide Field Planetary Camera 1 left many issues unanswered, as the data could not be fully calibrated for scientific use. In addition, those data never imaged the enigmatic inner structure presented here.

Credits: NASA, Donald Walter (South Carolina State University), Paul Scowen and Brian Moore (Arizona State University)

Research Team: Donald Walter (South Carolina State University), Paul Scowen, Jeff Hester, Brian Moore (Arizona State University), Reggie Dufour, Patrick Hartigan and Brent Buckalew (Rice University).

Funding: Space Telescope Science Institute, NASA MUSPIN and NASA URC.