A trio of stars is sculpting a beautiful cloud of gas and dust in the constellation Cetus. The cloud consists of gas and dust expelled by a dying star over the last few thousand years. The orbital motions of at least one of its companion stars are helping shape the cloud, which is known as the Skull Nebula. Ultraviolet energy from the dying star’s exposed core is causing the gas and dust to glow. The system is about 1,600 light-years away. [Gemini Observatory/Travis Rector/University of Alaska]
Find out more in our radio program entitled NGC 246.