Labelled overview of the Hyades star cluster (ground-based image): This image shows the region around the Hyades star cluster, the nearest open cluster to us. The Hyades cluster is very well-studied due to its location, but previous searches for planets have produced only one. A new study led by Jay Farihi of the University of Cambridge, UK, has now found the atmospheres of two burnt-out stars in this cluster — known as white dwarfs — to be “polluted” by rocky debris circling the star. Inset, the locations of these white dwarf stars are indicated — stars known as WD 0421+162, and WD 0431+126.

Name: Hyades, WD0421+162, WD0431+126
Type: Milky Way : Star : Evolutionary Stage : White DwarfMilky Way : Star : Grouping : Cluster : OpenMilky Way : Star : Circumstellar Material : Disk : Debris
Category: Star ClustersStars
Distance: 150 light years
Release date: 9 May 2013, 16:00
Credit: NASA, ESA, STScI, and Z. Levay (STScI)

Overview of the Hyades star cluster (ground-based image): This image shows the Hyades star cluster, the nearest cluster to us. The Hyades cluster is very well studied due to its location, but previous searches for planets have produced only one. A new study led by Jay Farihi of the University of Cambridge, UK, has now found the atmospheres of two burnt-out stars in this cluster — known as white dwarfs — to be “polluted” by rocky debris circling the star. Seeing  evidence of asteroids points to the possibility of Earth-sized planets  in the same system, as asteroids are the building blocks of major planets.  Planet-forming processes are inefficient, and spawn many times more  small bodies than large bodies — but once rocky embryos the size of  asteroids are built, planets are sure to follow.

Name: Hyades, WD0421+162, WD0431+126
Type: Milky Way : Star : Evolutionary Stage : White DwarfMilky Way : Star : Circumstellar Material : Disk : DebrisMilky Way : Star : Grouping : Cluster : Open
Category: Star ClustersStars
Constellation: Taurus
Distance: 150 light years
Release date: 9 May 2013, 16:00
Credit: NASA, ESA, and STScI.

Hubble image of the Ring Nebula (Messier 57): This new image shows the dramatic shape and colour of the Ring Nebula, otherwise known as Messier 57. From Earth’s perspective, the nebula looks like a simple elliptical shape with a shaggy boundary. However, new observations combining existing ground-based data with new NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope data show that the nebula is shaped like a distorted doughnut. This doughnut has a rugby-ball-shaped region of lower-density material slotted into in its central “gap”, stretching towards and away from us.

Name: M 57, Messier 57, NGC 6720, Ring Nebula
Type: Milky Way : Nebula : Type : Planetary
Category: Nebulae
Constellation: Lyra
Distance: 2500 light years
Release date: 23 May 2013, 16:00
Credit: NASA, ESA, and C. Robert O’Dell (Vanderbilt University).

The region around the Ring Nebula (Hubble/LBT composite): This image is a composite of the Ring Nebula (Messier 57). This combines new Hubble Wide Field Camera 3 data with observations of the nebula’s outer halo from the Large Binocular Telescope (LBT) in Arizona, USA. In this image, the knotty, turbulent space around the nebula shows up dramatically, creating an almost psychedelic effect. The Large Binocular Telescope is part of the Mount Graham International Observatory in Arizona.

Name: M 57, Messier 57, NGC 6720, Ring Nebula
Type: Milky Way : Nebula : Type : Planetary
Category: Nebulae
Constellation: Lyra
Distance: 2500 light years
Release date: 23 May 2013, 16:00
Credit: Credit for Hubble data: NASA, ESA, C. Robert O’Dell (Vanderbilt University), and David Thompson (LBTO)

The geometry and structure of the Ring Nebula (Messier 57): This schematic shows the geometry and structure of the Ring Nebula (Messier 57) as viewed side-on. This shows the nebula’s wide halo, inner region, lower-density lobes of material stretching towards and away from us, and the prominent, glowing disc. We are gazing almost directly down one of the poles of this structure, and view the brightest part of this nebula as the colourful main “ring”. This is composed of gas thrown off by a dying star at the centre of the nebula.

Name: M 57, Messier 57, NGC 6720, Ring Nebula
Type: Milky Way : Nebula : Type : Planetary
Category: IllustrationsNebulae
Release date: 23 May 2013, 16:00
Credit: NASA, ESA, and A. Feild (STScI)