Telescope takes close-ups of distant star

New images from an array of radio telescopes are providing the first detailed view of activity near a star other than our sun.

Bright spots in these radio-wavelength images (above, and below) show gas expelled from a dying star. Circle indicates star’s surface. VLBA/Kemball, Diamond

Although the elderly star, TX Camelopardalis, lies 1,000 light-years away, researchers were able to examine radio-emitting gas flung just a few hundred million kilometers—equivalent to about twice Earth’s distance from the sun.