spaceplasma:Fetus NebulaNGC 7008 (PK 93+5.2), also known as the Fetus Nebula is an interesting, colo
spaceplasma:Fetus NebulaNGC 7008 (PK 93+5.2), also known as the Fetus Nebula is an interesting, colorful planetary nebula located at a distance of 2800 light years in northern Cygnus.The intriguing assortment of features within the nebula’s approximately 1 light-year diameter suggest its popular name, the Fetus Nebula, but planetary nebulae are not associated with star birth. Instead, nebulae like NGC 7008 are produced during a brief phase that sun-like stars pass through toward the end of their lives. Ejecting their outer layers, the stars cool to eventually become white dwarf stars, like the star seen near the center of NGC 7008. This colorful image also includes an unrelated but still lovely gold and blue binary star system just below NGC 7008.Credit: Bob and Janice Fera -- source link