Why is the name Planetary Nebula considered slightly misleading?
Answer
They have nothing to do with planets but represent the final exhalations of Sun-like stars.
The term planetary nebula is misleading because these astronomical objects bear no actual relationship to planets. Historically, early telescopic observers like William Herschel noted their small, round, greenish appearance, which reminded them of the newly discovered planets Uranus and Neptune. In reality, a planetary nebula is the visible phenomenon resulting from the ejected outer atmosphere of a dying star, which is subsequently illuminated by the incredibly hot, dense core remnant left behind, known as a white dwarf. This process marks the final, visible stage of evolution for stars similar in mass to our own Sun.
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