The Butterfly Nebula, also known as NGC 6302, is a planetary nebula located in the constellation Scorpius. It is a cloud of gas and dust that is lit up by a central star, which is in the process of dying. The nebula is known for its distinctive butterfly-like shape, which is caused by the intense radiation from the central star ionizing and heating the surrounding gas. The nebula is located about 3,800 light-years away from Earth.
It is made up of a dying star surrounded by a cocoon of gas and dust that has been sculpted by the star’s intense radiation and solar wind into a beautiful butterfly-shaped structure. The nebula is located about 3,800 light years away from Earth and is estimated to be only about 1,000 years old. It is one of the most visually striking planetary nebulae known to exist.
The bright clusters and nebulae of the night sky of planet Earth are frequently named after flowers or insects. NGC 6302 is no exception, despite having a wingspan of over 3 light-years. The dying central star of this planetary nebula has become exceptionally hot, with an estimated surface temperature of about 250,000 degrees Celsius, shining brightly in ultraviolet light but hidden from direct view by a dense torus of dust.
It is named for its distinctive butterfly-like shape, which is created by the intense radiation and strong stellar winds from the central star, which have shaped and ionized the surrounding gas and dust. The nebula is located about 4,000 light-years away from Earth and has a diameter of about 3 light-years. It is one of the most visually striking planetary nebulae known. The Butterfly Nebula is created by a dying star, which still remains at the centre of the mass, with a dual-winged structure which earned it the nickname, ‘Butterfly’.
Although it appears delicate – almost cute – in the images captured by the telescope, its true size is nearly impossible to comprehend. It has a wingspan of over three light-years from tip to tip, a temperature of around 20,000 degrees Celsius, and travels through space at over 600,000 miles per hour.
It is often said that there is a certain beauty in death, and while stars aren’t alive in the traditional sense, their deaths appear to support the old adage. This stunning Hubble image shows two monstrous clouds of superheated gas, known as nebulae, being ejected from a dying star. According to the European Space Agency, the Butterfly Nebula seen here is located within our own Milky Way galaxy, 3800 light-years away. The various colors of the “wings” correspond to the various chemical elements that comprise the gas. The red tips, for example, indicate the presence of nitrogen, whereas the whiter, hotter regions are higher in sulfur.
