The planetary nebula Abell 33 captured using ESO's Very Large Telescope

Astronomers using ESO’s Very Large Telescope in Chile have captured this eye-catching image of planetary nebula Abell 33. Created when an aging star blew off its outer layers, this beautiful blue bubble is, by chance, aligned with a foreground star, and bears an uncanny resemblance to a diamond engagement ring. This cosmic gem is unusually symmetric, appearing to be almost perfectly circular on the sky.

Credit:

ESO

About the Image

Id:eso1412a
Type:Observation
Release date:9 April 2014, 12:00
Related releases:eso1412
Size:3446 x 3460 px

About the Object

Name:Abell 33
Type:Milky Way : Nebula : Type : Planetary
Distance:2500 light years
Constellation:Hydra
Category:Nebulae

Image Formats

Large JPEG
3.5 MB
Screensize JPEG
145.1 KB

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1024x768
178.1 KB
1280x1024
337.5 KB
1600x1200
575.7 KB
1920x1200
771.8 KB
2048x1536
1.0 MB

Coordinates

Position (RA):9 39 4.14
Position (Dec):-2° 50' 22.55"
Field of view:7.22 x 7.25 arcminutes
Orientation:North is 0.3° right of vertical