Detailed image of red giant confirms theory about massive stars

The red giant π1 Gruis is 530 light-years away, and it's reaching the end of its natural life. Soon, scientists think it will become a planetary nebula. But before it dies, astronomers are using π1 Gruis to shed light on some of the secrets of stellar phenomena. Now, using the most detailed images of a distant star ever captured, scientists have confirmed existing theories about giant stars in the late stages of their life. The results were published in Nature.