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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"
The Cat's Eye Nebula from Hubble
13/05/2007
NGC 6302: Big, Bright, Bug Nebula
29/04/2007
Dust and the Helix Nebula
23/02/2007
Planetary Nebula NGC 2440
15/02/2007
The Cat's Eye Nebula
12/11/2006
Messier 76
02/11/2006
Star Clusters Young and Old
10/09/2006
M27: Not A Comet
03/08/2006
NGC 2392 Nebula from Hubble
09/07/2006
M57: The Ring Nebula
25/06/2006
NGC 2440: Cocoon of a New White Dwarf
07/05/2006
NGC 246 and the Dying Star
18/04/2006
The LMC Galaxy in Glowing Gas
23/01/2006
Infrared Helix
12/01/2006
NGC 3242: The Ghost of Jupiter
29/10/2005
Cat's Eye
24/09/2005
The Boomerang Nebula in Polarized Light
14/09/2005
Stars Young and Old
04/08/2005
Spherical Planetary Nebula Abell 39
28/07/2005
Ringed Nebulae
23/07/2005
M2-9: Wings of a Butterfly Nebula
12/06/2005
M27: The Dumbbell Nebula
03/06/2005
Planetary Nebula Mz3: The Ant Nebula
01/05/2005
Celebrating Hubble With NGC 6751
16/04/2005
Infrared Ring Nebula
11/03/2005
NGC 3132: The Eight Burst Nebula
06/02/2005
NGC 2440: Cocoon of a New White Dwarf
23/01/2005
The Helix Nebula from Blanco and Hubble
29/12/2004
IC 418: The Spirograph Nebula
17/10/2004
Cat's Eye
10/09/2004