right side of image: circular nebula with reddish-white star at center, turquoise interior with hazy, cloudy yellow-orange and red rings around the center

M46 and a Planetary Nebula

This NASA Hubble Space Telescope image showcases the planetary nebula NGC 2438, which is located in front of the open star cluster M46 (also known as NGC 2437). Most of the stars in this image are part of M46 and are roughly 5,400 light-years away, 2,400 light years behind the nebula.

Credits: NASA, ESA, K. Knoll (NASA Goddard), and S. Öttl (Leopold Franzens Universität Innsbruck), et. al.; Processing: Gladys Kober (NASA/Catholic University of America)