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The Red Rectangle Nebula
This schematic illustrates the wide range of unique structures observed in this remarkable nebula. A thick dust disc obscures the starlight from the central binary star system. Constrained starlight passes into the bipolar nebula lobes, seen almost face-on. Multiple episodes of mass-loss have created a series of nested paraboloids in which the gas surfaces are seen edge-on as ”ladder rungs” with bright vortex-like features at their lateral edges. In infrared wavelengths, the nebula does not shine by reflected starlight but emits broad and narrow unidentified molecular bands.
- Release DateMay 11, 2004
- Science ReleaseDying Star Sculpts Rungs of Gas and Dust
- Credit
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Red Rectangle Zoom Animation
An animated movement over the Red Rectangle showing the rung-type structures. Astronomers interpret the X-shaped structure as outflows of gas and dust from the star in the center. The star in the center of the Red Rectangle is one that began its life as a star similar to our...
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Last Updated
Aug 17, 2025
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Media
Claire Andreoli
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland
claire.andreoli@nasa.gov
