Exposed Cranium Nebula: New Instagram Post

Hey, joshtospace just posted a new post! Go check it out!
https://www.instagram.com/p/DVYscpSDSS6/

The “Exposed Cranium” Nebula, formally designated PMR 1, lies about 5,000 light-years away in the constellation Vela. It represents a massive star in the final stages of its evolution. As the star exhausts its nuclear fuel, it begins to expel its outer layers into space, forming vast, billowing clouds of gas and dust.

Recent observations in both near- and mid-infrared wavelengths reveal a striking dark channel slicing through the center of the nebula. This feature resembles the longitudinal fissure that divides the human brain into two hemispheres. Astronomers suggest that powerful jets from the dying star may be carving this channel, forcing material outward from the inner regions. While the nebula’s outer shell is composed primarily of simple hydrogen, the inner clouds contain more chemically complex material, reflecting the star’s advanced evolutionary stage. #space #astronomy

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