Planetary nebula NGC 5189 in the fly - This nebula is located about 3000 light...

Planetary nebula NGC 5189 in the fly - This nebula is located about 3000 light years from Earth in the southern constellation of the fly. Image obtained by the Gemini and Hubble telescopes (HST). NGC 5189 is a planetary nebula. At the end of its life, a star with a mass less than eight times that of the Sun will blow its outer layers away, giving rise to a planetary nebula. Some of these stellar puffballs are almost round, resembling huge soap bubbles or giant planets (hence the name), but others, such as NGC 5189 are more intricate. In particular, this planetary nebula exhibits a curious S” - shaped profile, with a central bar that is most likely the projection of an inner ring of gas discharged by the star, seen edge on. The details of the physical processes producing such a complex symmetry from a simple, spherical star are still the object of astronomical controversy. One possibility is that the star has a very close (but unseen) companion. Over time the orbits drift due to precession and this could result in the complex curves on the opposite sides of the star visible in this image. This image has been taken with the Gemini and Hubble space Telescope.