Blue Ring Nebula Cone-shaped Debris Clouds (IMAGE)

W. M. Keck Observatory

Blue Ring Nebula Cone-shaped Debris Clouds

Caption

The Blue Ring Nebula consists of two hollow, cone-shaped clouds of debris moving in opposite directions away from the central star. The base of one cone is traveling almost directly toward Earth. As a result, astronomers looking at the nebula see two circles that partially overlap.

Credit

Mark Seibert

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