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Helix Nebula

The Helix Nebula, as seen by several CCDs.
The Helix Nebula, as seen by several CCDs. Image: Rob Morgan, Dark Energy Survey

Like the image of the Lovejoy Comet, this trippy shot of the Helix Nebula is separated by CCDs. The nebula is about 650 light-years from Earth and is the remnant of a star’s death. At the center of the ejected outer layers is a white dwarf—all that remains of the star. Our Sun will eventually die in similar fashion.