# @nasa on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/CVwBAj2Jr-K
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/11733187-nasa-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/thumbnails/1001709aab.jpg
- **Posted:** 2021-11-01T22:37:06.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** NASA (@NASA) — https://gondola.cc/NASA

## Caption

Did the Helix Nebula catch your eye? 👁️

All eyes are on this eerie Spitzer Space telescope image that shows infrared radiation from the well-studied Helix Nebula, a mere 700 light-years away in the constellation Aquarius. 

The two-light-year diameter shroud of dust and gas around a central white dwarf, is an example of a planetary nebula, one of the final stages in the evolution of a Sun-like star. The dust makes this cosmic eye gleam red. 

The nebular material was ejected from the star many thousands of years ago, the close-in dust could be generated by collisions in a reservoir of objects, like our own solar system’s Kuiper Belt or cometary Oort cloud. Formed in the distant planetary system, the comet-like bodies have otherwise survived the dramatic late stages of the star’s evolution. 

Keep an eye out as we highlight some of our favorite nebulae this November! 👀

Image credit: NASA, JPL-Caltech, Kate Su (Steward Obs, U. Arizona) et al. 

#NASA #NebulaNovember #HelixNebula #Astronomy #EyeSpy #Stars #Space #Phenomenon #DeepSpace #Astrophotography

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 1,284,609
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 4,511

## Tags

deepspace, nasa, astrophotography, helixnebula, space, nebulanovember, phenomenon, stars, eyespy, astronomy

---
Copyright (c) Gondola