The Hubble space scope has captureda brainy pictureof OH 231.8 + 04.2 , also known as the Calabash Nebula because of its similar shape to the southern African gourd .
The extremely detailed image shows the consequence of an old star losing its outer layer , transubstantiate from a cherry giant star into aplanetary nebula . The ejected fabric is being propelled at the incredible speed of 1 million kilometre ( 620,000 miles ) per hr .
The Calabash nebula is located 5,000 light - years away in the constellation of Puppis , in the southern hemisphere . It is also known as the Rotten Egg nebula because scientists discover that the nebula is rich in sulphur , which is one of the elements responsible for the characteristic flavour of a rotten egg . But do n’t worry , the concentration of Earth ’s standard atmosphere is a thousand trillion prison term the density of a world nebula , so even if you were there , you would n’t be smelling much .
This shot is an unbelievable view of a fleeting phenomenon , in astronomical timescales . Planetary nebulae form in just a few thousand year , which is a nictitation compare to lead ' lifetime of several billions of age .
It is also a window into the future of the Sun and the many down - mass stars that inhabit the existence . Only stars that are sound than eight of our Suns can become supernovae . The others develop into red heavyweight and then turn into planetary nebula .
These cherry goliath have a dense , fabulously raging core ( temperature of many jillion of level ) and they swell up , with the out level loosely bond by sombreness . The up-and-coming photons from the core tug the petrol away and arouse it , turn the lost layer into a brightly shining nebula .
Eventually , the wiz fall back its cover and cools down . The star becomes a white dwarf and the outer layers , without the hot photons , stop glisten .
The name planetary nebula is a misnomer . They are not related to planets at all . But the first uranologist to see one , William Hershel , retrieve they search a turn like a planet , being somewhat pear-shaped , and for better or for worse the name stuck .
