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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"
M27: The Dumbbell Nebula
14/09/2014
Rings Around the Ring Nebula
13/08/2014
Ou4: A Giant Squid Nebula
18/07/2014
Planetary Nebula NGC 2818 from Hubble
13/07/2014
Halo of the Cat's Eye
01/06/2014
Planetary Nebula Abell 36
30/05/2014
A Halo for NGC 6164
22/05/2014
NGC 6188 and NGC 6164
01/02/2014
NGC 7293: The Helix Nebula
10/01/2014
Planetary Nebula Abell 7
05/12/2013
M2-9: Wings of a Butterfly Nebula
15/09/2013
IRAS 20324: Evaporating Protostar
04/09/2013
Bright Planetary Nebula NGC 7027 from Hubble
26/08/2013
A Spectrum of Nova Delphini
23/08/2013
NGC 2392 from Hubble and Chandra
30/07/2013
NGC 6302: The Butterfly Nebula
07/06/2013
M57: The Ring Nebula
05/06/2013
The Red Rectangle Nebula from Hubble
21/05/2013
NGC 3132: The Southern Ring Nebula
09/04/2013
NGC 6751: The Glowing Eye Nebula
13/03/2013
NGC 6188 and NGC 6164
28/12/2012
NGC 5189: An Unusually Complex Planetary Nebula
19/12/2012
Planetary Nebula PK 164 +31.1
30/10/2012
The Red Spider Planetary Nebula
29/10/2012
A Halo for NGC 6164
27/10/2012
The Medusa Nebula
25/10/2012
Spherical Planetary Nebula Abell 39
08/10/2012
NGC 7293: The Helix Nebula
04/10/2012
Ring Nebula Drawn
15/09/2012
Halo of the Cat's Eye
31/08/2012