The incredible-looking “Necklace Nebula” is located approximately 15,000 light-years away from Earth in the small, dim constellation of Sagitta (the Arrow) and caused by the interaction of two dying stars that formed a spectacular ring surrounded by bright clumps of gas. Technically speaking, this pair of tightly orbiting Sun-like stars created the Necklace Nebula (PN G054.203.4) when one of the aging stars expanded and engulfed its smaller companion, creating a “common envelope,” roughly 10,000 years ago. Read more for a video on the necklace nebula and additional information.
The smaller star then continued to orbit inside its larger partner, thus increasing the giant’s rotation rate until large parts of it spun outwards into space. It was this escaping ring of debris that eventually formed the Necklace Nebula, consisting of dense clumps of gas that appear as bright “diamonds” around the ring.
- POWERFUL TELESCOPE FOR ASTRONOMY BEGINNERS: The Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ Newtonian reflector is ideal the telescope for beginners. It features...
- NEWTONIAN REFLECTOR OPTICAL DESIGN: With a large, 130mm aperture, the AstroMaster 130EQ can gather enough light to see our Solar System and beyond....
- EASY TO SET UP AND USE: This is a great telescope for kids and adults to use together. It features a manual German Equatorial mount for smooth and...
The pair of stars which created the Necklace Nebula remain so close together – separated by only several million miles – that they appear as a single bright dot in the center of this image. Despite their close encounter, the stars are still furiously whirling around each other, completing an orbit in just over a day,” said NASA.