Gallery: Strange Nebula Shapes, What Do You See?

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View of the Iconic Eagle Nebula

ESO

A close-up image of the the so-called “Pillars of Creation” located at the center of the Eagle Nebula.

Ring Nebula

Bob and Janice Fera

The Ring Nebula in Lyra lies 2.300 light years from Earth. It is estimated to have been expanding for about 1600 years.

Swan Nebula as Seen by New VLT Survey Telescope

space, european southern observatory, eso, eso images, messier 17, vst, vlt survey telescope, vista infrared survey telescope, new telescope, paranal observatory, first light, first light pictures, new telescope images

The first released VST image shows the spectacular star-forming region Messier 17, also known as the Omega Nebula or the Swan Nebula, as it has never been seen before. This vast region of gas, dust and hot young stars lies in the heart of the Milky Way in the constellation of Sagittarius (The Archer).

Cat's Eye Nebula

NASA

The Cat's Eye Nebula features concentric shells or bubbles of gas and dust.

Creepy Skull Nebula

Gemini South GMOS/Travis Rector/U. of Alaska Anchorage

A Gemini South image of the planetary nebula NGC 246, or "Skull Nebula."

Cosmic 'DNA': Double Helix Spotted in Space

NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA

This is a color enhanced version of the infrared signal to make the Double Helix Nebula's features easier to see. The spots are mostly red giants and red supergiants. Many other stars are present, but are too dim to appear.

Butterly Nebula Flutters in Space

The Butterfly Nebula exhibits the classic hourglass shape of many planetary nebulas…

Space Jellyfish

NASA/ESA/Hubble and L. Ricci (ESO)

This "space jellyfish" is one of several new protoplanetary discs, or proplyds discovered in the Orion Nebula, 181-825 is one of the bright proplyds that lies relatively close to the nebula’s brightest star, Theta 1 Orionis C. Resembling a tiny jellyfish, this proplyd is surrounded by a shock wave that is caused by stellar wind from the massive Theta 1 Orionis C interacting with gas in the nebula. The objects are so far away that even with Hubble's keen eye, they appear blurry.

Jellyfish Nebula

NASA

The Jellyfish Nebula seen swimming in a cosmic sea.

Space.com Staff
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