The Robin's Egg Nebula in Fornax: NGC 1360
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This unique nebula lies around 1,500 light-years away. Its shape and color are reminiscent of a robin's egg in this telescopic view. The cosmic cloud spans about 3 light-years, nestled securely within the boundaries of the southern constellation of the Furnace (Fornax).
Recognized as a planetary nebula, egg-shaped NGC 1360 does not represent a beginning, though. Instead, it corresponds to a brief and final phase in the evolution of an aging star. In fact, visible at the center of the nebula, the central star of NGC 1360 is known to be a binary star system likely consisting of two evolved white dwarf stars, less massive but much hotter than the Sun. Their intense and otherwise invisible ultraviolet radiation has stripped away electrons from the atoms in their mutually surrounding gaseous shroud. The blue-green hue inside of NGC 1360 seen here is the strong emission produced as electrons recombine with doubly ionized oxygen atoms.
Image Description: "A dark starfield highlights a blue and pink nebula in its center. Dark lanes of dust are visible at the nebula's center."
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