IC 63, a spectacular nebula, portrayed by NASA’s Hubble telescope.
NASA, ESA, and STScI
Some 550 light-years from Earth, a blue-giant star called Gamma Cassiopeiae is emitting an enormous torrent of radiation that is constantly colliding with the gas and dust that comprise a cometary cloud known formally as IC 63, and less rigidly as the Ghost Nebula.
The force of the radiation from the star progressively strips material away from the nebula, forcing it into a distinctive fantail shape.
NASA’s Hubble Telescope recently imaged the Ghost Nebula using both optical and infrared spectra. The result only adds to its spooky and spectacular reputation.