Hubble showcases the Egg Nebula in all its dying-star glory

Source: Engadget

Overview

Hubble may no longer be the gold standard, but it can still capture impressive images. Its latest snapshot provides the clearest view yet of the Egg Nebula, located roughly 3,000 light‑years from Earth. The nebula’s name comes from the dense layer of gas and dust that cloaks a central star.

Image Details

The new image reveals four beams of starlight escaping from the central star through the surrounding gas‑and‑dust “shell.” On either side of the disc‑like cloud are fast‑moving outflows of hot molecular hydrogen. Orange highlights indicate the glow of infrared light. As the beams stretch outward, they illuminate concentric rings of gas. The ripple‑like pattern of these rings suggests they were created by successive bursts from the star, with a slightly larger ejection occurring every few hundred years.

Hubble image of the Egg Nebula – a disc of gas and dust surrounded by beams of light and concentric rings of dust.
SA / Hubble & NASA, B. Balick (University of Washington)

Astronomical Context

The Egg Nebula, found in the constellation Cygnus, was first discovered in 1975. Nebulae in this pre‑planetary phase are rare because the stage lasts only a few thousand years and they are often faint, making them difficult for astronomers to spot. By comparing this new image with previous Hubble snapshots, researchers can learn more about the nebula’s structure and evolution, while the striking visual also offers “sweet eye candy” for the public.

Source

This article originally appeared on Engadget: