What factors contribute to the diverse structural shapes observed in planetary nebulae?
Answer
Interaction of fast winds with slow material, or the influence of companion stars/magnetic fields
Planetary nebulae are not simple spherical bubbles; their structural diversity, such as bipolar lobes, is thought to be shaped by complex mechanisms, including fast stellar winds colliding with slower, previously ejected material, or the presence of companion stars or strong magnetic fields.
#Videos
How Does A Red Giant Become A Planetary Nebula? - YouTube
How Do Red Giants Create Planetary Nebulae? - Physics Frontier
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