Sunny Priyan
Abell 78 is an unusual planetary nebula formed as a dying star collapses into a dense, hot white dwarf after exhausting its nuclear fuel.
Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, M. Guerrero
As this process occurs, the dying star will throw off its outer layers of material, forming an elaborate cloud of gas and dust known as a planetary nebula.
Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, M. Guerrero
This phenomenon is not uncommon, and planetary nebulae are a popular focus for astrophotographers because of their often beautiful and complex shapes.
Image Credit: Pixabay
Abell 78 is a rare “born again” star, where a surface thermonuclear runaway ejects material at high speeds despite the core having ceased burning.
Image Credit: Pexels
This ejecta shocks and sweeps up the material of the old nebula, producing the filaments and irregular shell around the central star.
Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, M. Guerrero
Abell 78 is located around 5,000 light-years away in the constellation of Cygnus (The Swan).
Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, M. Guerrero