
This detailed celestial image captures a gaseous disk ejected by a dying, sun-like star. The Helix Nebula was sculpted late in the Sun-like star's life by a torrent of gasses escaping from the star. The image is actually of a trillion-mile-long tunnel of glowing gasses, but because it is pointed nearly directly at Earth, it appears more bubble-like than a cylinder shape. In a way this view of the nebula looks like a massive glowing eye floating within the Milky Way galaxy.
A gorgeous celestial object of expelled gasses resulting in radiant hues of blue (oxygen) and red (nitrogen). Perfect for the astronomy buff or anyone with a fascination of the universe we live in.