Your Challenges

As planetary nebulae are all thought to form in a similar way, they should have a similar structure.   That's difficult to see in the images on the previous page.   But remember that we will be seeing the different nebulas from different angles.   If they have a structure other than a simple sphere, they will look different from different angles.

We have worked out that the expanding clouds of gas and dust of most planetary nebulae are pinched in the middle by the stars magnetic field.   This makes them expand into a sort of bow-tie shape.

Your challenge is to use this model of a planetary nebula's shape, to work out the orientation of each of the nebulas on the previous page.

This challenge is more difficult than it seems because whilst the underlying structure of the objects is similar, there is a great deal of variation caused by other things that can be different about the dying star.   These include the size of the star, how fast its spinning, if its rich in heavier elements, if its effected by the gravity of nearby stars. The colour you see in HST pictures is sometimes true to life and sometimes not.  Whatever the case, different colours in a single picture show different chemicals in the nebula.

Task 1 – Make a Model Planetary Nebula

The first thing to do is to make a model of a planetary nebula.   These days astronomers usually make visual models in computer programs, but we thought you might like to have a go at making a hands-on physical model.   Do this by gluing two plastic bottles end to end by the caps.  Here is our one:

 

Task 2 - Matching the Observations to the Model

Planetary Nebulae only appear different because we see them at different angles.  Workout how to view your model Planetary Nebula like each nebula in the images.  Pretend that you eyes are Hubble.   Only keep one eye open and orientate the model planetary nebula in front of you until it appears similar to the Nebula in each of the images.  

For each nebula, pick which of the three orientations below, is closest to our view.

A  End view	B  Part end / part side	C  Side view

Check your answers here

We hope you have enjoyed this challenge and now know one way in which astronomers work out what they are seeing when they spy something weird in their telescopes.

Here are some extra tasks using the idea of interpreting 2D views as 3D objects.

Task 3 – What Are We Looking At?

Having seen how we can recognize astronomical objects, can you recognize, name and draw the everyday objects from the views that you are given here.

Download the task PowerPoint Show

 

Task 4 – Construct the Objects

In this activity you will see two 2D views of  3D shapes constructed from colored cubes.  Your teacher will give you some cubes (3 red, 4 brown…) and your task is to construct each 3D object according to  the 2D views that you are given.

Download the task PowerPoint Show