From splattered paint to stellar clues 🎨 esawebb’s latest infrared view of planetary nebula NGC 6072 may look chaotic — but there’s cosmic order behind the mess. This stunning, asymmetrical cloud of gas and dust is the result of a dying star shedding its outer layers… and it’s likely not alone. The multipolar shape hints at complex dynamics, with elliptical outflows and concentric rings possibly carved out by a hidden companion star. As the central star loses up to 80% of its mass, cool gas, hot ionised material and dense dust structures tell a story written over thousands of years. By studying nebulae like NGC 6072, astronomers are unravelling how stars enrich the cosmos — seeding the ingredients for future stars and planets. Swipe through to explore the details behind this tangled celestial tapestry 📸 nasa, europeanspaceagency , canadianspaceagency, space_telescopes; creativecommons BY 4.0