Each day we feature a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer. This strange structure is what can result when a normal star runs out of nuclear fuel in its core. At that time, the center condenses into a white dwarf while the outer atmospheric layers are expelled into space and appear as a planetary nebula . This particular planetary nebula , designated Shapley 1 after the famous astronomer Harlow Shapley , has a very apparent annular ring like structure.
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