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Planetary Nebula
An expanding shell of ionized gas ejected from a red giant star in the late stages of stellar evolution. Despite the name, it has no connection to planets. The glowing gas is illuminated by the hot core of the dying star.
Source: science.nasa.gov
APODs including "Planetary Nebula"
NGC 5307: A Symmetric Planetary Nebula
31/12/1997
NGC 7009: The Saturn Nebula
30/12/1997
M2-9: Wings of a Butterfly Nebula
23/12/1997
NGC 6826: The Blinking Eye
19/12/1997
The Butterfly Planetary Nebula
21/10/1997
Cold Wind From The Boomerang Nebula
15/10/1997
MyCn18: An Hourglass Nebula
14/09/1997
Infrared Helix
01/09/1997
The Cat's Eye Nebula
02/08/1997
At the Edge of the Helix
20/07/1997
NGC 3242: The 'Ghost of Jupiter' Planetary Nebula Credit:
31/03/1997
Shapley 1: An Annular Planetary Nebula Credit and Copyright:
15/02/1997
Cocoon of a New White Dwarf Credit:
03/12/1996
Fliers Around the Blue Snowball Nebula Credit:
22/11/1996
The Blue Snowball Planetary Nebula Credit:
21/11/1996
NGC 5882: A Small Planetary Nebula
28/08/1996
The Cat's Eye Nebula (Revisited)
04/07/1996
At the Edge of the Helix
22/04/1996
NGC 7293: The Helix Nebula
17/04/1996
Cometary Knots in the Helix Nebula
16/04/1996
The Eye of an Hourglass Nebula
09/02/1996
Searchlight Beams from the Egg Nebula
29/01/1996
MyCn18: An Hourglass Nebula
18/01/1996
NGC 7027: A Dying Star's Nebula
17/01/1996
NGC 4361: Galaxy Shaped Planetary Nebula
29/12/1995
Shapley 1: An Annular Planetary Nebula
12/12/1995
NGC 5189: A Strange Planetary Nebula
11/12/1995
NGC 2440 Nucleus: The Hottest Star?
30/11/1995
M27: The Dumbbell Nebula
29/07/1995
M57: The Ring Nebula
27/07/1995