Hubble Space Telescope captures the stunning final breaths of a dying star

The Hubble Space Telescope has captured a stunning image of the Egg Nebula, showcasing the final stages of a dying star. This nebula is located approximately 1,000 light-years away in the constellation Cygnus. The central star, which is sun-like, is obscured by a dense cloud of dust, resembling a "yolk" nestled within an opaque "egg white." The image reveals a dramatic interplay of light and shadow, sculpted by freshly ejected stardust, highlighting the intricate details of this cosmic structure. The latest snapshot from Hubble provides a clear view of the Egg Nebula, which features four beams of starlight escaping from its gas-and-dust shell. Surrounding the central star, fast-moving outflows of hot molecular hydrogen are visible on either side of the disc-like cloud. The orange highlights in the image indicate the glow of infrared light, further enhancing the visual complexity of the nebula. As the beams of starlight stretch outward, they illuminate concentric rings of gas, which exhibit a ripple-like pattern. This pattern suggests that the gas was created by successive bursts from the star, with additional material being ejected every few hundred years. Hubble's sharpness allows for the unveiling of these intricate details, which hint at the processes shaping the Egg Nebula. The nebula's name is derived from its dense layer of gas and dust that cloaks the central star. The image serves as a testament to Hubble's continued ability to capture impressive astronomical phenomena, despite discussions regarding its status as the gold standard in space observation. The Egg Nebula's captivating features and the processes occurring within it provide valuable insights into the life cycle of stars and the dynamics of stellar evolution.