Space science and astronomy: New eyes on old stars: Decoding late-stage stellar evolution.

空间科学和天文学：对老恒星的新视角：解码晚期恒星演化。

• 批准号: FS100100019
• 负责人: Prof Quentin Parker
• 金额: $ 19.3万
• 依托单位: Macquarie University
• 依托单位国家: 澳大利亚
• 项目类别: Super Science Fellowships
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 澳大利亚
• 起止时间: 2010-12-01 至 2014-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://dataportal.arc.gov.au/RGS/Web/Grants/FS100100019
• 关键词: Space; science; astronomy; New; eyes

Planetary nebulae, the extended shrouds of dying stars, are a fascinating, brief period in the life of most stars. Our Sun will eventually go through this phase engulfing the earth. Planetary nebulae are unique celestial laboratories thanks to their rich emission line spectra. They are amongst the most beautiful and mysterious of objects, whose startling images act as a photogenic magnet for public interest. Behind their beauty hides the mystery of how stars return carbon, one of life's essential building blocks - to interstellar space. This project will constitute the next major breakthrough in understanding these processes and addresses several significant astrophysical problems in the field via unique Australian data and instrumentation.

行星状星云是垂死恒星的延伸体，在大多数恒星的生命中是一个迷人而短暂的时期。我们的太阳最终会经历这个阶段吞噬地球。行星状星云是独特的天体实验室，这要归功于它们丰富的发射线光谱。它们是最美丽和神秘的物体之一，其惊人的图像就像一块吸引公众兴趣的上镜磁铁。在它们美丽的背后隐藏着恒星如何将碳（生命的基本组成部分之一）返回星际空间的奥秘。该项目将构成理解这些过程的下一个重大突破，并通过独特的澳大利亚数据和仪器解决该领域的几个重大天体物理问题。