This image from the Hubble Space Telescope reveals The Cat's Eye Nebula to be one of the most complex planetary nebulae known. In fact , the features seen in the Cat's Eye are so complex that astronomers suspect the bright central object may actually be a binary star system . The term planetary nebula , used to describe this general class of objects, is misleading. Although these objects may appear round and planet-like in small telescopes, high resolution images reveal them to be stars surrounded by cocoons of gas blown off in the late stages of stellar evolution . On planet Earth, of course, cats and other creatures may be on the prowl tonight.
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