Produced by: Tarun Mishra
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has captured striking images of the Red Spider Nebula, located around 3,000 light-years away in the constellation Sagittarius. The nebula is home to one of the hottest known stars, with surface temperatures of up to 250,000°C (450,000°F).
According to NASA, the intense heat from the central star energizes surrounding gas, creating massive shockwaves that extend over 62 billion miles (100 billion kilometres) into space. These shockwaves form the nebula's distinctive spider-leg-like arcs.
NASA described the images as showing "orange waves of hot gas" that resemble the curved legs of a spider. At the core of the nebula, there is a pinkish glow, and the backdrop is dotted with bright white points of light.
The images of the Red Spider Nebula have sparked widespread interest online, garnering over 600,000 likes. Many users commented on the beauty of the nebula, expressing awe at the celestial sight.
Internet users left comments describing their impressions of the nebula. Some likened it to a spider, while others called it "celestial entanglement" and remarked on the wonder of observing such a distant and intricate formation.
Launched in 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope is a joint project between NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA). It has observed nearly 47,000 celestial objects and completed over 1.4 million observations in its 30-year mission.
Named after astronomer Edwin P. Hubble, who confirmed that the universe is expanding, the telescope has traveled over 4.4 billion miles in space. It continues to provide valuable insights into the cosmos, including its recent capture of the Red Spider Nebula.
Credit: NASA