This giant space bubble is being blown by a massive star visible at the 10 o"clock position inside it. Already over 7 light-years across and expanding at a rate of over 4 million mph, the "bubble" is actually the shock wave created when expanding hot gas (or stellar wind) hits the cold, interstellar gas that surrounds it. The Bubble Nebula was discovered in 1787 by William Herschel. The star inside is living fast and will die young (for a star)—it will likely detonate as a supernova in only 10 to 20 million years. This image was taken in 2016 by the Hubble Space Telescope to mark the 26th anniversary of Hubble"s launch into Earth orbit by the STS-31 space shuttle crew. We"re showing it to mark the last day of World Space Week, an annual "international celebration of science and technology, and their contribution to the betterment of the human condition."
A star blows a bubble
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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Australian baobab tree, Kimberley region, Western Australia
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Happy anniversary to the National Park Service!
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Legacy mural in Philadelphia
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Ready for takeoff
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Presidents Day
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Over and under the delta
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All is silent for Big Ben’s musical milestone
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Let s celebrate cephalopods
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Old Fortress, Corfu, Greece
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Happy Arbor Day!
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Spring comes to Glacier National Park
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World Teachers Day
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With leaves this tasty, who cares about a view?
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International Surfing Day
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Celebrating National Park Week, April 21-29
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D-Day remembered
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At the gates of the ksar
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‘Fringe’ takes center stage as Edinburgh celebrates the arts
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Cecil Brewer Staircase, London
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Celebrating sea otters
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Trevi in bloom
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The Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Italy
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St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland
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It s aboat time for the Barcolana
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Endangered Species Day
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Hang Sơn Đoòng Cave, Vietnam
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World Turtle Day
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New Zealand s loneliest mountain
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Happy Cinco de Mayo!
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International Tiger Day