Stunning Cosmic Display of a Dying Star.. Hubble Captures the Most Detailed Image of the 'Egg Nebula'

SadaNews - In a captivating cosmic scene, the Hubble Space Telescope has captured a new image, described by the American space agency (NASA) as "amazing", documenting a rare light show surrounding a star in its dying stages within what is known as the "Egg Nebula".

The image, which was published by the official Hubble Telescope account on the "X" platform, shows a dramatic interaction between light and shadow resulting from dense stellar dust recently ejected from the central star, creating a complex visual structure that is one of the clearest observations of this nebula to date.

The Hubble team commented on the shot, stating that it is "the most detailed image captured of the Egg Nebula, showcasing a stunning light display around a dying star at an accelerated pace".

NASA explained that the nebula is located approximately a thousand light-years away from Earth, within the constellation Cygnus, and it contains a central star obscured behind a dense cloud of dust. This formation resembles a "yolk of an egg" surrounded by a dark "white", in a metaphor that reflects the nature of the shadowy structure concealing the heart of the nebula from direct observation.

The agency notes that the telescope's exceptional accuracy played a crucial role in revealing these fine details, highlighting the complex physical processes accompanying the final stages of a star's life as it begins to lose its material and form primitive planetary nebulae with asymmetric shapes.

This image adds to Hubble's rich record of observing violent transformations in the universe, affirming that dying stars - despite their decline - are capable of producing captivating light scenes that help scientists understand how nebulae form and evolve over time.

Source: Al Jazeera