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A stunning 'butterfly' in space: Amazing Hubble image captures the Twin Jet Nebula spewing out cosmic clouds at 620,000mph

Ellie Zolfagharifard For Dailymail

August 2l7, 2015

Image reveals the incredible complexity of the bipolar nebula’s two shimmering lobes 5,560 light-years away
It is known as a bipolar nebula, because it has two stars at its centre with around the same mass as the sun
The star has not only ejected its outer layers, but the exposed remnant core is now illuminating these layers

The majestic beauty of the dying Twin Jet Nebula has been revealed in incredible detail in a stunning new image by Hubble.

Stretched out like iridescent butterfly wings, the image reveals the incredible complexity of the bipolar nebula’s two shimmering lobes.

Despite their peaceful appearance, these violent cosmic clouds are jets of star material, streaming off into space at speeds over 620, 000mph (1 million km/h).

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The majestic beauty of the dying Twin Jet Nebula has been revealed in incredible detail in a stunning new image by Hubble. Stretched out like iridescent butterfly wings, the image reveals the incredible complexity of the bipolar nebula’s two shimmering lobes

The cosmic butterfly pictured goes by several names. It is called the Twin Jet Nebula as well as answering to the slightly less poetic name of PN M2-9.

The glowing and expanding shells of gas clearly visible in this image represent the final stages of life for an old star.

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