Gallery
Cosmic ‘Winter’ Wonderland
NGC 6357 is a diffuse nebula in the constellation Scorpius. The nebula contains many proto-stars shielded by dark discs of gas, and young stars wrapped in expanding “cocoons” or expanding gases surrounding these small stars. It is also known as the Lobster Nebula.This nebula was given the name War and Peace Nebula by the Midcourse Space Experiment scientists because of its appearance, which, in infrared images the bright, western part resembles a dove, while the eastern part looks like a skull.
It is located about ~5,500 light years away from Earth.
“Eye of God”
The Helix Nebula (also known as NGC 7293) is a planetary nebula located in the constellation Aquarius. This object is one of the closest of all the bright planetary nebulae to Earth. It is similar in appearance to the Cat’s Eye Nebula and the Ring Nebula. The Helix Nebula has sometimes been referred to as the “Eye of God” in pop culture, as well as the “Eye of Sauron”.