Thor’s Helmet
The distinctive shape of the nebula NGC 2359 has led to it also being known as Thor's Helmet, resembling the headgear of the Norse God (and Marvel superhero).
Around 11 thousand light years away, the overall bubble shape is mainly due to interstellar material swept up by the winds of the nebula's central star Wolf-Rayet, an extremely hot giant thought to be in a pre-supernova stage. This stunning image is one of the shortlisted pictures for the Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition organised by the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London. The awards will be announced on 17 September.
Thor's Helmet (NGC 2359) © Adam Block (USA)
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