Planetary Nebulae

This is the Cat's Eye Nebula, formally known as NGC 6543. Discovered by William Herschel in 1786, this particular image of the nebula was taken by the Chandra telescope with the aid of X-ray technology, due to the high amount of the frequency emitted by the planetary nebula.

This is NGC 6326. This nebula contains glowing wisps of outpouring gas from the center of the star that are illuminated by a binary central star.

This is the Helix Nebula, formally known as NGC 7293. Located in the constellation Aquarius, eventually, the nebula is destined to become a white dwarf star.

This is the Eskimo Nebula, formally known as NGC 2392. Named so for its appearance resembling an eskimo wearing a parka hood, the nebula is bipolar and double-shelled.

This is the Necklace Nebula, formally known as PN G054.2-03.4. Located in the constellation Sagitta, it was only recently discovered in 2005, from the Isaac Newton Telescope Photometric H-alpha Survey.

This is the Ring Nebula, formally known as NGC 6720 and categorized on Messier's list as M57. Located in the constellation Lyra, this constellation is passing through its final stage after being a red giant before becoming a white dwarf.

This is the Lemon Slice Nebula, formally known as IC 3568. Located in the constellation Camelopardalis, its core diameter is only .4 lightyears.

This is Abell 78. Located in a star cluster, it has been determined that planetary nebulas are more likely to inhabit 4 specific globular clusters, being M15, M22, NGC 6441 and Palomar 6.

This is NGC 6886. The nebula, in relation to most other planetary nebulas, is relatively tiny.

This is NGC 5189. This was photographed in 2009 by the Hubble Space Telescope.