Astronomy Picture of the Day -- NGC 3132: The Eight Burst Nebula

NASA ^ | June 26, 2011 | (see photo credit)

[SunkenCiv]

Explanation: It's the dim star, not the bright one, near the center of NGC 3132 that created this odd but beautiful planetary nebula. Nicknamed the Eight-Burst Nebula and the Southern Ring Nebula, the glowing gas originated in the outer layers of a star like our Sun. In this representative color picture, the hot blue pool of light seen surrounding this binary system is energized by the hot surface of the faint star. Although photographed to explore unusual symmetries, it's the asymmetries that help make this planetary nebula so intriguing. Neither the unusual shape of the surrounding cooler shell nor the structure and placements of the cool filamentary dust lanes running across NGC 3132 are well understood.

[SunkenCiv]

[Credit: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)]

[SunkenCiv]

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[CyberAnt]

Hmmmmm ..?? There’s even a sparkle in God’s eye!!

[unkus]

Absolutely georgous and awesome. Thank you.

[Larry Lucido]

Wow.

[HeartlandOfAmerica]

This the one in the background on The Big Bang Theory? Think so.

[Bullish]

Nebulas are some of the most amazing sights in the universe.

Cat's Eye Nebula

[Crooked Constituent]

God’s artwork. Absolutely amazing.

[Mike Darancette]

Hmmmmm ..?? There’s even a sparkle in God’s eye!!

Could that be but a mote?

[dr_lew]

Do you mean the image behind the graphic title? That looks like art work to me.

[CyberAnt]

I think you missed the point.

[HeartlandOfAmerica]

Nope. In the apartment while the show is playing. Frequently they show this picture on the wall.

[left that other site]

Magnificent!

Thank You for your faithful postings, pics, and pings!

[SunkenCiv]

my pleasure. :’)

[TheOldLady]

The bright star is youth, and the dim, old age. Which has made this nebula more beautiful? Asks TheOldLady, LOL!

[SunkenCiv]

http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DSFqtEMLx2z

[SunkenCiv]

http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DSFqtEMLx2zk

[SunkenCiv]

and, Oops.

[TheOldLady]

That was an interesting story and year of Silbury Hill, but it stopped at 6:30 out of 8:12, so I didn’t get to hear the end. Sigh...

Thanks anyway, Civ.

[dr_lew]

Here?

I was gonna say the Ring Nebula, but it doesn't quite match. I'm pretty sure it's the Helix Nebula ( after extensive perusal ):