Planetary nebula NGC 3132 in Vela
author: Nasa/Hubble heritage team/Novapix
reference: a-nep31-32001
Image Size 300 DPI: 10 * 7 cm
NGC 3132 is a planetary nebula nearly half a light year in diameter, and at a distance of about 2,000 light-years. It is one of the nearest known planetary nebulae. The gases are expanding away from the central star at a speed of 9 miles per second. Image taken by the Hubble space telescope on december 7 1995.