What will the central star of the Cat's Eye Nebula ultimately become after shedding its layers?
Answer
A white dwarf
The central star is currently in a transitional phase as it exhausts its nuclear fuel. Once the outer layers are completely shed into space, the remaining core will be exposed, forming a white dwarf. This object represents the stripped-down, degenerate remains of the star. It will be characterized by immense density, having the mass of the Sun compressed into a volume similar to that of Earth, but it will lack the fuel necessary to sustain fusion.
Related Questions
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