Cooler than Cold.
Published In: Sky & Telescope, 2026, v. 151, n. 3. P. 68 1 of 3
Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3
Authored By: YOUNG, MONICA 3 of 3
Abstract
The article focuses on the Boomerang Nebula, which is recognized as the coldest known place in the universe, with temperatures reaching only 0.5 kelvin. Located 5,000 light-years away in the Centaurus constellation, the nebula consists of gas layers shed from a dying red giant star, which was once significantly more massive than the Sun. The nebula's unique cooling process allows it to absorb the cosmic microwave background radiation, resulting in its ultra-cold state. However, the star at its center is evolving into a white dwarf, and within the next 1,000 years, its radiation will transform the nebula into a glowing planetary nebula. [Extracted from the article]
Additional Information
- Source:Sky & Telescope. 2026/03, Vol. 151, Issue 3, p68
- Document Type:Article
- Subject Area:Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Publication Date:2026
- ISSN:0037-6604
- Accession Number:190835859
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