Vibrant nebulae for Holi & Purim! 🎊🎭 We’re celebrating the Hindu festival of colours and the Jewish feast of lots with this dazzling Hubble view of the Veil Nebula—a celestial masterpiece painted by the remnants of an ancient stellar explosion. Around 10 000 years ago, a massive star—20 times the size of our Sun—came to a spectacular end, leaving behind this intricate web of glowing gas. Situated 2,400 light-years away in the constellation Cygnus, the Veil Nebula shines in radiant red, blue, and gold, as captured in three different filters by hubbleesa. These colours represent light emitted by different elements, much like the vibrant powders of Holi and the joyous costumes of Purim! Although frozen in this image, the nebula is ever-changing, its delicate filaments shifting over decades—much like traditions that evolve while staying rooted in history. By comparing this snapshot with past Hubble observations, astronomers can trace the motion of these cosmic tendrils, unravelling th...