Planetary Nebulae

"Planetary nebulae (PNe) occupy a pivotal position in several branches of modern astrophysics. They are the chief source in the Universe of carbon, the basic constituent of life, and of s-process elements, which in the solar system, dominate the abundances of elements heavier than the iron-group. In terms of stellar evolution, PNe provide a link between the last ascent of the red giant branch (the asymptotic giant branch, or AGB) and the white dwarf end-point to the life of low- and intermediate-mass stars. PNe enrich the surrounding interstellar medium and directly influence the next generation of star formation, thus having important implications for galactic evolution." -- UCL Department of Physics & Astronomy - Astrophysics Group

Soap Bubble Nebula (PN G75.5+1.7)

Credit: T. A. Rector/University of Alaska Anchorage, H. Schweiker/WIYN and NOAO/AURA/NSF

Abell 39

Credit: WIYN/NOAO/NSF

Ant Nebula (Menzel 3)

Credit: NASA, ESA and the Hubble Heritage Team STScI/AURA)

IC 4406

Credit: NASA/ESA and The Hubble Heritage Team STScI/AURA

Little Ghost Nebula (NGC 6369)

Credit: Copyright image reproduced with the permission of Paul & Liz Downing

Credit: NASA and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)

Eskimo Nebula

Credit: NASA, ESA, Andrew Fruchter (STScI), and the ERO team (STScI + ST-ECF)

Eight-Burst or Southern Ring Nebula (NGC 3132)

Credit: Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA/NASA/ESA

Red Spider Nebula (NGC 6537)

Credit: Adam Block/NOAO/AURA/NSF

Credit: ESA & Garrelt Mellema (Leiden University, the Netherlands)

Bug Nebula (NGC 6302)

Credit: Adam Block/NOAO/AURA/NSF

Credit: NASA, ESA and A.Zijlstra (UMIST, Manchester, UK)

Ring Nebula (M57)

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/J. Hora (Harvard-Smithsonian CfA)

Credit: The Hubble Heritage Team (AURA/STScI/NASA)

Helix Nebula (NGC 7293)

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ J. Hora (Harvard-Smithsonian CfA)

Credit: ESO

Credit: NASA, NOAO, ESA, the Hubble Helix Nebula Team, M. Meixner (STScI), and T.A. Rector (NRAO)

Credit: NASA, NOAO, ESA, the Hubble Helix Nebula Team, M. Meixner (STScI), and T.A. Rector (NRAO)

Cat's Eye Nebula (NGC 6543)

Credit: NASA, ESA, HEIC, and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)

Click here watch a short video about the Cat's Eye Nebula.

Resources and Galleries: AOP Planetary Nebula, Chandra Images by Category: White Dwarfs & Planetary Nebulas, ESO Tag: Nebula, NOAO Image Gallery: Planetary Nebulae, Paul and Liz Downing's Nebula Image Page, Hubbel Gallery Planetary Nebula.