Demise in ice and fire

The Bug Nebula, NGC 6302, is one of the brightest and most extreme planetary nebulae known. At its centre lies a superhot, dying star smothered in a blanket of hailstones. A new Hubble image reveals fresh detail in the wings of this cosmic butterfly.

Most planetary nebulae are distinctive, but few are as extreme as NGC 6302, also known as the Bug Nebula. The fiery, dying star at its centre is shrouded by a blanket of icy hailstones.

Credit:

ESA/NASA and Albert Zijlstra

About the Image

Id:heic0407a
Release date:Apr 29, 2004, 10:00 CEST
Related release:heic0407
Size:1181 x 1476 px

About the Object

Name:Bipolar Nebula, Bug Nebula, IRAS 17103-3702, NGC 6302
Type:• Stars Images/Videos
• Nebulae Images/Videos

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