# @nasa on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DcJe3cPFRup
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/69358653-nasa-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/9d1df5a002.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-08-17T16:36:45.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** NASA (@NASA) — https://gondola.cc/NASA

## Caption

It’s the circle of stellar life 🦁

This photo by NASAWebb shows off the Lion Nebula in finer detail than ever before. This nebula was created by the dying star in its center.

When massive stars die, they undergo a dramatic supernova explosion. But when smaller stars die, like the one at the center of the Lion Nebula, they shed their layers into the space around them. This discarded gas and dust turns into shells surrounding a hot stellar core.

Eventually, the gas and dust that make up the Lion Nebula’s structure will disperse from its core. Scientists estimate that this will occur in about 10,000 years.

Credit: NASA

#NASA #Nebula #CircleOfLife

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## Tags

nasa, circleoflife, nebula

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