Astronomers target the celestial hourglass of a dying star – Astronomy Magazine
The international Gemini Observatory/NSF’s National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory/AURA
Beauty can come after death — well, at least after the death of a star.
The image captured above, taken by the Gemini Observatory, showcases the planetary nebula known as CVMP 1, which is the outcome of a main-sequence star that blew off its outer layers as it ballooned into a red giant. This cosmic wonder doesn’t have a long lifespan, though. Its hourglass shape will only last about 10,000 years. And one day, the star will cool down, causing its hourglass form to fade from view.
