Dying star creates fantasy-like sculpture of gas and dust
In this detailed view from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, the so-called Cat's Eye Nebula looks like the penetrating eye of the disembodied sorcerer Sauron from the film adaptation of "Lord of the Rings."
The nebula, formally catalogued NGC 6543, is every bit as inscrutable as the J.R.R. Tolkien phantom character. Although the Cat's Eye Nebula was among the first planetary nebula ever to be discovered, it is one of the most complex planetary nebulae ever seen in space. A planetary nebula forms when Sun-like stars gently eject their outer gaseous layers to form bright nebulae with amazing twisted shapes.
Credit:About the Image
NASA press release
Id: | heic0414a |
Type: | Observation |
Release date: | 9 September 2004, 15:00 |
Related releases: | heic0414 |
Size: | 1417 x 1417 px |
About the Object
Name: | Cat's Eye Nebula, NGC 6543 |
Type: | Milky Way : Nebula : Type : Planetary |
Distance: | 3000 light years |
Constellation: | Draco |
Category: | Nebulae |
Wallpapers
Coordinates
Position (RA): | 17 58 33.26 |
Position (Dec): | 66° 37' 58.15" |
Field of view: | 1.17 x 1.17 arcminutes |
Orientation: | North is 144.6° left of vertical |
Colours & filters
Band | Wavelength | Telescope |
---|---|---|
Optical Oiii | 502 nm |
Hubble Space Telescope
ACS |
Optical Oiii | 505 nm |
Hubble Space Telescope
ACS |
Optical H-alpha + Nii | 658 nm |
Hubble Space Telescope
ACS |