New images reveal the Butterfly Nebula in unprecedented detail

uol.com.br (Portuguese)

New images reveal the Butterfly Nebula in unprecedented detail. The nebula, NGC 6302, is a bipolar planetary nebula formed by a dying star shedding its outer gas layers. This celestial structure, also known as the Insect Nebula, was likely first observed by James Dunlop in 1826 and studied by Edward E. Barnard in 1907. It originated from a red giant star, now a white dwarf exceeding 250,000 degrees Celsius. The intense heat from the white dwarf's core creates supersonic winds that sculpt the nebula's distinctive "wings," showcasing the dramatic end stages of stellar evolution.


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New images reveal the Butterfly Nebula in unprecedented detail | News Minimalist