Previous Photo Back to Folder Next Photo
Retina

Retina

We see this doughnut-shaped nebula from the side making it appear rectangular rather than round like many other planetary nebulae. A network of dense tendrils of cooler gas surround the nebula. These tendrils show up as a dark web of stripes in front of the glowing gas. Each thin dark line is many times as wide as our entire solar system!


Credit: NASA/Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)
Other Sizes:

Full Size
Previous
Previous Photo
Folder
Back to Folder
Next
Next Photo