images

Crescent nebula in Cygnus

by

J.Lodriguss/Novapix

Reference

a-neb68-88008

Date

2008-12-02

The nebula is a shell of gas that is being energized by the strong stellar wind from the Wolf-Rayet star WR 136, the bright star at the center of the nebula. It is located about 5,000 light years from Earth in the constellation of Cygnus, the Swan. Wolf-Rayet stars are very hot, massive stars that are blowing off their outer layers.