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Astronomy Picture of the Day - Shapley 1: An Annular Planetary Nebula
NASA ^ | 4 Mar, 2026 | Image Credit & Copyright: Peter Bresseler; Text: Keighley Rockcliffe (NASA GSFC, UMBC CSST, CRESST I

Posted on 03/04/2026 1:19:43 PM PST by MtnClimber

Explanation: What’s looking back at you isn’t a cosmic eye, but Shapley 1, a beautifully symmetric planetary nebula. Shapley 1, also known as the Fine Ring Nebula or PLN 329+2.1, bejewels the southern sky constellation of the Carpenter's Square (Norma). The nebula is the result of a star near the mass of our Sun running out of fuel and shedding its outer layers. Glowing oxygen from those expelled layers makes up the circular halo. The bright central point is actually a binary: a white dwarf, the remaining stellar core after the outer layers are expelled into space, and another star, orbiting each other every 2.9 days. Shapley 1’s annular shape is due to our top-down view of the system and provides insight into the influence of central stars on planetary nebula structures.


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; nasa; uranus

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1 posted on 03/04/2026 1:19:43 PM PST by MtnClimber
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To: MtnClimber

2 posted on 03/04/2026 1:20:00 PM PST by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: 21stCenturion; 21twelve; 4everontheRight; A Navy Vet; A_perfect_lady; abb; AFB-XYZ; AFPhys; ...
Pinging the APOD list

🪐 🌟 🌌 🍔

3 posted on 03/04/2026 1:21:29 PM PST by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: MtnClimber

Reminds me
I need More Range Time!


4 posted on 03/04/2026 1:43:43 PM PST by Big Red Badger (Resist Satan's Tyranny )
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To: MtnClimber
HAL 9000 is in LOVE!


5 posted on 03/04/2026 2:06:50 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: MtnClimber

It’s beautiful.


6 posted on 03/04/2026 2:22:34 PM PST by telescope115 (Ad Astra, Ad Deum…)
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To: MtnClimber

Those things show up, and then some some alien spaceship comes shooting out of it.


7 posted on 03/04/2026 2:26:03 PM PST by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer” )
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To: telescope115

It’s peppermint, definitely peppermint.


8 posted on 03/04/2026 2:45:54 PM PST by GaltAdonis
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