Discover the cosmos!Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe isfeatured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

2024 July 12

Explanation: Planetary nebulaJones-Emberson 1is thedeath shroudof a dying Sun-like star.It lies some 1,600 light-years from Earth toward thesharp-eyed constellation Lynx.About 4 light-years across,the expanding remnant of the dying star's atmosphere wasshrugged offinto interstellar space, as the star'scentral supply of hydrogen and then helium for fusion wasdepleted after billions of years.Visible near the center of the planetary nebulais what remains of the stellar core, a blue-hotwhite dwarf star. Also known as PK 164 +31.1, the nebula is faint and verydifficult to glimpse at a telescope's eyepiece.But this deep imagecombining over 12 hours of exposure time does show it off in exceptionaldetail.Stars within our own Milky Way galaxy as well as background galaxiesacross the universe are scattered through the clear field of view.Ephemeralon the cosmic stage, Jones-Emberson 1will fade away over the next few thousand years.Its hot, central white dwarf star will takebillionsof years to cool.

Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff(MTU) &Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)NASA Official: Amber StraughnSpecific rights apply.NASA Web Privacy,Accessibility NoticesA service of:ASD atNASA /GSFC, NASA Science Activation& Michigan Tech. U.