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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"
IC 418: The Spirograph Nebula
11/06/2017
M27: Not a Comet
09/06/2017
The Red Spider Planetary Nebula
19/04/2017
The Comet, the Owl, and the Galaxy
24/03/2017
The Calabash Nebula from Hubble
15/02/2017
The Butterfly Nebula from Hubble
08/02/2017
The Cat's Eye Nebula from Hubble
30/01/2017
IC 4406: A Seemingly Square Nebula
08/01/2017
The Extraordinary Spiral in LL Pegasi
11/12/2016
M27: The Dumbbell Nebula
02/11/2016
The Helix Nebula in Infrared
20/09/2016
M2-9: Wings of a Butterfly Nebula
24/07/2016
The Cat's Eye Nebula
03/07/2016
Cat's Eye Wide and Deep
28/05/2016
The Comet, the Owl, and the Galaxy
21/04/2016
NGC 6188 and NGC 6164
30/03/2016
Big Dipper, Deep Sky
23/01/2016
Cygnus: Bubble and Crescent
04/12/2015
M27: Not a Comet
20/08/2015
The Medusa Nebula
12/06/2015
NGC 3132: The Eight Burst Nebula
07/06/2015
NGC 2440: Pearl of a New White Dwarf
17/05/2015
MyCn18: An Hourglass Planetary Nebula
10/05/2015
Planetary Nebula Mz3: The Ant Nebula
26/04/2015
M46 Plus Two
17/04/2015
Long Lovejoy and Little Dumbbell
27/02/2015
The Soap Bubble Nebula
13/01/2015
The Cat's Eye Nebula from Hubble
09/11/2014
The Helix Nebula from Blanco and Hubble
12/10/2014
The Butterfly Nebula from Hubble
01/10/2014