What beautiful structure forms from the expelled outer layers of a low-mass star?
Answer
A planetary nebula
After the core exhausts its helium fuel, it settles as a dense ball composed mainly of carbon and oxygen, lacking the internal energy source needed to ignite further fusion (since it cannot reach the necessary temperatures). The star's outer layers, now loosely bound, are gently ejected into space via strong stellar winds. This expelled material, enriched with elements synthesized during the star's life, forms a glowing, expanding shell surrounding the exposed core. This resulting structure is known as a planetary nebula, named for its round appearance through early telescopes rather than any association with planets.
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