                        Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                                2026 March 4
   A starfield is shown with a large circular blue ring in the center. In
   the ring's center is a bright blue spot. Please see the explanation for
                         more detailed information.

                   Shapley 1: An Annular Planetary Nebula
    Image Credit & Copyright: Peter Bresseler; Text: Keighley Rockcliffe
                      (NASA GSFC, UMBC CSST, CRESST II)

   Explanation: What’s looking back at you isn’t a cosmic eye, but Shapley
   1, a beautifully symmetric planetary nebula. Shapley 1, also known as
   the Fine Ring Nebula or PLN 329+2.1, bejewels the southern sky
   constellation of the Carpenter's Square (Norma). The nebula is the
   result of a star near the mass of our Sun running out of fuel and
   shedding its outer layers. Glowing oxygen from those expelled layers
   makes up the circular halo. The bright central point is actually a
   binary: a white dwarf, the remaining stellar core after the outer
   layers are expelled into space, and another star, orbiting each other
   every 2.9 days. Shapley 1’s annular shape is due to our top-down view
   of the system and provides insight into the influence of central stars
   on planetary nebula structures.

                      Tomorrow's picture: sun bubbling
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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply.
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                             & Michigan Tech. U.

