Tech Desk 
Oct 13, 2024
NASA’s Hubble revealed the hourglass shape of an amazing planetary nebula back in 1996, which was situated at a distance of approximately 8,000 light-years away. However, at that time the nebula was similar to a pair of bigger outer rings along with a smaller one with no apparent sharper details available.
Planetary nebulae are formed when sun-like stars die, and a vigorous and hot white dwarf star is created. Simultaneously, the star at the time of death ejects out it’s outer layers of material, creating a dark cloud of gas and dust which is called planetary nebula. Moreover, it’s not a scarce phenomenon and still this “eye” star is distinctive, that should be placed at the centre of the nebula but it’s off centre.
Read more: NASA’s Hubble captures Bubble Nebula situated 7,100 Light-Years from Earth
Hubble further revealed a few astonishing features in the nebula like it consist of a pair of bisecting elliptical rings present in the central region that seems similar to the edges of a smaller hourglass.
Furthermore, it also includes other intricate patterns of etchings present over the walls of hourglass that might be the remains of shells emitted from the stars earlier.
The image comprises three separate pictures captured by Hubble’s Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2 in the light of ionised nitrogen, Hydrogen, and double ionised Oxygen that are all indicated by different colours including red, green, and blue.
