Template:POTD/2007-06-06

A visible light image of the Helix Nebula, one of the closest planetary nebulae (about 650 light-years away) to Earth, located in the constellation Aquarius. It was discovered by Karl Ludwig Harding before 1824 and was created at the end of the life of a Sun-like star. The outer gases of the star expelled into space appear from our vantage point as if we are looking down a helix. The remnant central stellar core, destined to become a white dwarf star, glows in light so energetic that it causes the previously expelled gas to fluoresce.

Photo credit: Hubble Space Telescope and Mosaic II Camera, CTIO
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