PIX4623698: Planetary Nebula Hen - 1357 dans l'Altar/HST - This Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2 image captures the infancy of the Stingray nebula (Hen - 1357), the youngest known planetary nebula. In this image, the bright central star is in the middle of the green ring of gas. Its companion star is diagonally above it at 10 o'clock. A spur of gas (green) is forming a faint bridge to the companion star due to gravitational attraction. The image also shows a ring of gas (green) surrounding the central star, with bubbles of gas to the lower left and upper right of the ring. The wind of material propelled by radiation from the hot central star has created enough pressure to blow open holes in the ends of the bubbles, allowing gas to escape. The red curved lines represent bright gas that is heated by a “” shock””” caused when the central star's wind hits the walls of the bubbles. The nebula is as large as 130 solar systems, but, at its distance of 18,000 light - years, it appears only as big as a dime viewed a mile away. The Stingray is located in the direction of the southern constellation Ara (the Altar). The colors shown are actual colors emitted by nitrogen (red), oxygen (green), and hydrogen (blue). The filters used were F658N ([N II]), F502N ([O III]), and F487N (H - beta). The observations were made in March 1996 / Bridgeman Images

PIX4620508: Nebula NGC 7023 in Cephee - Iris Nebula in Cepheus - The nebula of the Iris (NGC 7023) is a reflexion nebula illuminated by the star HD 200775. NGC 7023 (The Iris Nebula) Distance: 1400 Light Years The bright star HD 200775 shining through the nebula NGC 7023 is a 10 solar mass star centrally imbedded in a region surrounded by ambient molecular cloud material / Bridgeman Images

PIX4621031: Nebula Sh2 - 142 in Cephee - Nebula Sh2 - 142 in Cephee - Star formation region in Cephee and star clusters NGC 7380. Image obtained by the Oschin telescope of Mount Palomar through several filters and composed / Bridgeman Images

PIX4621173: Nebulae VDB 14 and VDB 15 - Nebulae VDB 14 and VDB 15 - Nebulae reflexion in the constellation Giraf / Bridgeman Images

PIX4621267: Molecular cloud B 68 in Ophiuchus seen in infrared - False - colour composite based on a visible (here rendered as blue), a near - infrared (green) and an infrared (red) image. Since the light from stars behind the cloud is only visible at the longest (infrared) wavelengths, they appear red. At a distance of only 410 light - years, Barnard 68 is one of the nearest dark clouds. Its size is about 12,500 AU (= 2 million km; 1 Astronomical Unit [AU] = 150 million km), or just about the same as the so - called “” Oort Cloud””” of long - period comets that surrounds the solar system. The temperature of Barnard 68 is 16 Kelvin (- 257* C) The total mass of the cloud is about twice that of the Sun / Bridgeman Images

PIX4619938: Eagle Nebula (IC 4703) and M16 star cluster in the Snake - Eagle Nebula (IC 4703) and M16 star cluster in the Snake - Messier 16 is a cluster of stars formed about 2 million years ago from the gas and dust that still surrounds it today. The nebula always forms new stars. It is located about 7000 light years from Earth in the constellation Serpent / Bridgeman Images

PIX4618144: Orion M78 Nebula - The M78 Nebula (NGC 2068) is located about 1600 years of light from Earth and extends over 4 years of light. Image obtained by Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope / Bridgeman Images

PIX4618389: Nebula NGC 2174 in Orion - Nebula NGC 2174 in Orion - NGC2174 is a large nebula that surrounds the cluster of stars NGC 2175 in the constellation Orion / Bridgeman Images

PIX4617146: Mercury by Mariner 10 - Mercury by Mariner 10 - Basin Caloris - The Basin Caloris is the rest of a large impact crater; visible half on the left of the image, it measures 1300 km in diameter. Mosaic of images obtained by the Mariner 10 probe / Bridgeman Images

PIX4617600: NGC 1931 in the constellation Coach - Photograph of the nebula NGC 1931 in the constellation Coach, star-forming region / Bridgeman Images

PIX4622581: Nebulae IC 4592 and IC 4601 in Scorpio - Nebulae IC 4592 and IC 4601 in Scorpio - IC 4592 is a reflexion nebula, the fine normally dark dust is illuminated by the light of Nu Scorpii, a five star system, very bright. Top right, another reflexion nebula, IC 4601 / Bridgeman Images

PIX4622614: Nebula IC 4628 and star clusters in Scorpio - Nebula IC 4628 and star clusters in Scorpio - Nebula IC 4628 in the middle left of the image is surrounded at the bottom by the star cluster NGC 6231, and by the NGC 6242 cluster at the top of the image. A beautiful collection of open clusters and nebulosity is seen here in Scorpius, just north of the double star Zeta Scorpii. Zeta is visible at the far bottom right and is also know as the “Little Cat's Eyes””. NGC 6231 is a lovely open cluster above Zeta. IC 4628 is the emission nebula just northeast of two loose open clusters, Cr 316 and Tr 24 in the center of the photo. NGC 6242 is the other small open cluster at top left. (c) 2006 Jerry Lodriguss/www.astropix.co / Bridgeman Images

PIX4622694: Cocoon Nebula (IC 5146) in the Swan - Cocoon Nebula - IC 5146 130 EDT f/8 working at f/6 6 minute exposure hypered Fujicolor Super HG 400 3:20 am May 14, 1994 Sentinel, A / Bridgeman Images

PIX4622715: Cocon Nebula (IC 5146) in Swan - Cocon Nebula (IC 5146) in Swan - Cocon Nebula is located about 4000 light years from Earth in the constellation Swan. It's a star-forming region. Image obtained by the Oschin telescope of Mount Palomar through several filters and composed / Bridgeman Images

PIX4621924: Nebula IC 410 in the Coach - IC 410 is a low nebulosite surrounding the cluster of stars NGC 1893. Image obtained by the Oschin telescope of Mount Palomar through several filters and composed / Bridgeman Images

PIX4617207: Mercury by Mariner 10 - Mercury by Mariner 10 - Shakespeare crater region - Mosaic of images made by the Mariner 10 probe. Shakespeare crater area (poorly visible on the left; In the right center of the image, the 45 km Degas crater with its bright star ejectas. On the left, part of the Caloris basin / Bridgeman Images

PIX4617350: Sunrise on Mercure - Artist's view / Bridgeman Images

PIX4617480: Nebula NGC 281 in Cassiopee - Nebula NGC 281 in Cassiopee - This region of stole formation is located about 10,000 years from Earth / Bridgeman Images

PIX4617756: Nebulae NGC 1973 - 5 - 7 and M42 - 43 in Orion - Nebulae NGC 1973 - 5 - 7 and M42 - 43 in Orion - Located 1500 years - light, Orion's nebula is the closest star-forming region of the Sun / Bridgeman Images

PIX4618298: Tarantula Nebula (NGC 2070) in the Sea bream - Around the Tarantula nebula in the Large Magellanic Cloud - The Tarantula Nebula (or 30 Bream bream) is the largest star-forming region of the Great Magellan Cloud. It is located 170,000 light years ago in the constellation Dorado (southern hemisphere). At the center of this nebula, the open cluster of R136 stars, clusters of hot and massive stars. Mosaic of 14 images, 70 hours of cumulative poses. Known as the Tarantula Nebula for its spidery appearance, the 30 Doradus complex is a huge stellar factory. It is the largest emission nebula in the sky, and can be seen far down in the southern sky at a distance of about 170,000 light - years, in the southern constellation Dorado. It is part of one of the Milky Way's neighbouring galaxies, the Large Magellanic Cloud. The Tarantula Nebula is thought to contain more than half a million times the mass of the Sun in gas and this vast, blazing labyrinth hosts some of the most massive stars known. Surrounding this nebula is a huge and much fainter series of interlocking bubbles and shells of gas and dust blow away from the center of activity by intense stellar winds and supernova explosions. 14 Panel Mosaic, Total Exposure 70 Hours with a 14.5” telescope / Bridgeman Images

PIX4618597: Nebula of the cone Ngc 2264 in the Unicorn - The Cone Nebula (also known as NGC 2264) is an H II region in the constellation of Monoceros. It was discovered by William Herschel in 1785. The nebula is located about 800 parsecs or 2,600 light - years away from Earth. The Cone Nebula is part of the nebulosity surrounding the Christmas Tree Cluster. The designation of NGC 2264 in the New General Catalogue refers to both objects and not the nebula alone / Bridgeman Images

PIX4618635: Nebula of the cone NGC 2264 in the Unicorn - Nebula of the cone NGC 2264 in the Unicorn - The nebula of the Cone, is a region H II located about 2600 years - light from the Earth. The bright star is S Monocerotis, a star of magnitude 4.7 / Bridgeman Images

PIX4618750: Nebula NGC 2264, S Monocerotis, Hubble nebula and Trumpler 5 clusters in Unicorn - Nebula NGC 2264, S Monocerotis, Hubble nebula and Trumpler 5 clusters in Unicorn - The Cone nebula, in the right center, is a H II region located about 2600 years - light from Earth. The bright star in the center is S Monocerotis, a star of magnitude 4.7. Upstairs, an open cluster of stars, Trumpler 5. Below, to the right, the Hubble nebula. Image obtained with a Takahashi FSQ 106 bezel, through various filters / Bridgeman Images

PIX4618911: Nebula NGC 3372 and cluster of stars in the Carene - The nebula of the Carene is located about 7000 years from the Earth. It is home to many hot stars, including the star Eta Carinae. All around it, many star clusters are visible, including the South Pleiades, IC 2602, top left / Bridgeman Images

PIX4618921: Nebula NGC 3372 in the Carene - The nebula of the Carene is located about 7000 light years from the Earth. It is home to many hot stars, including the star Eta Carinae / Bridgeman Images

PIX4618962: Nebula NGC 3372 in the Carene - The nebula of the Carene is located about 7000 light years from the Earth. It's a star-forming region. It also houses a dozen massive stars, including the star Eta Carinae (left). On the right, a cluster of young stars, Trumpler 14. Image made with ACS camera of the Hubble space telescope, 48-frame mosaic / Bridgeman Images

PIX4618998: Nebulae in the Carene - H - Alpha - The Carene nebula (NGC 3372), on the right, is located about 7000 light years from Earth. It is home to many hot stars, including the star Eta Carinae. Lower left, nebulae NGC 3603 and NGC 3576. Image made with an H - alpha filter in Chile / Bridgeman Images

PIX4619203: Nebulae NGC 3603 and NGC 3576 in the Carene - Nebulae NGC 3603 and NGC 3576 in the Carene - NGC 3576 (right) is located about 10,000 years - light from Earth; NGC 3603 (left) is twice as far away. These two nebulae are located in the constellation Carene / Bridgeman Images

PIX4619247: Nebula NGC 6188 in the Altar - Nebula NGC 6188 is located about 4000 light years from Earth. It is home to a cluster of young stars NGC 6193, formed three million years ago. Image obtained by Siding Spring's 3.9m telescope / Bridgeman Images

PIX4619414: Nebula NGC 6357 in the Scorpio - This nebulae is located about 5500 light years from Earth. Image obtained by the Oschin telescope of Mount Palomar through several filters and composed / Bridgeman Images

PIX4619605: The nebula of the Lagoon (M - 8/ngc 6523) - View of the nebula of the Lagoon (M - 8/ngc 6523). Located in Sagittarius, at a distance of 6500 light years, it extends over a diameter of 60 AL / Bridgeman Images

PIX4619713: Nebula of the Lagoon (M8) in the Sagittarius - View of the nebula of the Lagoon (M - 8/ngc 6523). Located in Sagittarius, at a distance of 6500 light years, it extends over a diameter of 60 AL. Composite Image / Bridgeman Images

PIX4619806: Nebula NGC 6559 in Sagittarius - Nebula NGC 6559 in Sagittarius - Located in Sagittarius, this nebula is located at a distance of about 5000 years - light from Earth / Bridgeman Images

PIX4619821: Nebulae M20 - M8 in Sagittair / Bridgeman Images

PIX4619889: Nebulae IC 1283 - 84 and M24 clusters in Sagittarius - Nebulae IC 1283 - 84 and M24 clusters in Sagittarius - Star field in Sagittarius with dark nebulae Barnard 92 and Barnard 93 to the bottom of nebulae IC 1283 - 84 and NGC 6589 - 90 and Sagittarius cluster M24 / Bridgeman Images

PIX4619985: Eagle Nebula (IC 4703) and M16 Star Cluster in the Snake - Eagle Nebula (IC 4703) and M16 Star Cluster in the Snake - The M16 Star Cluster is a cluster of young stars from 7000 years - light, formed about 2 million years ago in the Eagle Nebula, IC 4703 3. These stars are much warmer than the Sun and can be 30 times more massive. / Bridgeman Images