Close-up: PMR 1—The Exposed Cranium Nebula in Vela | Webb Telescope

Close-up: PMR 1—The Exposed Cranium Nebula in Vela | Webb Telescope

A distinct dark lane between two cosmic clouds adds to the brainy appearance of the planetary nebula PMR 1 located in the Vela constellation. The Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) instrument on the NASA/European Space Agency/Canadian Space Agency James Webb Space Telescope shows multiple phases of a dying star’s outbursts in one image—the skull-like, whitish outer bubble is from an initial ejection, mostly of hydrogen, followed by other heavier material, shown in orange in the nebula’s interior. As with many NIRCam images, many stars and even distant galaxies can be seen behind the nebula.

Distance from Earth: ~5,000 light years

Beyond its unusual appearance there is still much to be uncovered about PMR 1. It is unclear if the star creating the nebula is massive enough to undergo a supernova, or if it will evolve into a dense white dwarf once it has shed all its outer layers.

Image Description: A nebula appears like a transparent bubble with a white edge. Inside are two hemispheres of orange clouds being blown out from the center, split by a dark lane, giving the overall appearance of a see-through skull with a brain inside, as seen from above. A few stars appear with six points, and small background galaxies can be seen around and through the outer bubble.

Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, N. Bartmann (ESA/Webb)

Image Processing: Joseph DePasquale (STScI)

Duration: 30 seconds
Release Date: Feb. 25, 2026

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