![This nebula resembles an eye, with the "pupil" immediately around the star appearing a light blue, the "iris" fading into a mixture of blue, orange, and red with a yellow-orange ring around it, and the sclera appearing bright red-orange.](https://science.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/c63-1b.png?w=4096&format=png)
C63 (NGC 7293) – The Helix Nebula
This image shows a fine web of filamentary "bicycle-spoke" features embedded in the colorful red and blue ring of gas. At 650 light-years away, the Helix is one of the nearest planetary nebulae to Earth. A planetary nebula is the glowing gas around a dying, Sun-like star.
Credits: NASA, NOAO, ESA, the Hubble Helix Nebula Team, M. Meixner (STScI), and T.A. Rector (NRAO)
Image CreditNASA, NOAO, ESA, the Hubble Helix Nebula Team, M. Meixner (STScI), and T.A. Rector (NRAO)
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