Twinkle, twinkle, ghost of a star

PHOTO: EUROPEAN PRESSPHOTO AGENCY

This bubble glowing like the ghost of a star in the darkness of space may appear supernatural, but it is a familiar astronomical object - a planetary nebula, the remnants of a dying star. It is possibly the best view of the little-known object captured by European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope in northern Chile. Its nickname is the Southern Owl Nebula, and the orb has a diameter of almost four light-years.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on August 06, 2015, with the headline Twinkle, twinkle, ghost of a star. Subscribe