A telescope in Chile has captured a stunning new image of a majestic and graceful cosmic butterfly. NoirLab, from the National Science Foundation (NSF), released the image on Wednesday, 26.
Photographed last month by the Gemini South telescope, the aptly named Butterfly Nebula is located 2,500 to 3,800 light-years away in the constellation Scorpius. One light year is 6 trillion miles.
At the center of this bipolar nebula is a white dwarf star. The expelled gas forms the butterfly-like wings that protrude from the aging star, whose heat causes the gas to glow.
Continues after advertising
Chilean students chose this astronomical object to celebrate 25 years of operation of the Gemini International Observatory.
*With information from Associated Press.
