One of the most fascinating things about stars is how they create their finest work of art as they die. The M2-9, also known as the Butterfly Nebula, is a good example of this phenomenon.
As stars die, they “transform themselves from normal stars to white dwarfs by casting off their outer gaseous envelopes.”
The expended gas frequently forms an impressive display called a planetary nebula that fades gradually over thousands of years.
How lucky we are to see such a spectacle.
(Image Credit: Hubble Legacy Archive, NASA, ESA - Processing: Judy Schmidt)