A cosmic hourglass – bipolar planetary nebula captured by Hubble

Portrait of M1-63, a fine example of a bipolar planetary nebula located in the constellation Scutum, captured by the Hubble Space Telescope. Credit: ESA / Hubble & NASA, L. Stanghellini

This week NASA/THIS The Hubble Space Telescope Picture of the Week features an impressive portrait of M1-63, a beautifully captured example of a bipolar planetary nebula located in the constellation Scutum (the Shield). A nebula like this forms when the star in its center throws enormous amounts of matter from its outer layers, leaving behind a dramatic cloud of gas and dust.

It is believed that a binary star system at the center of the Bipolar Nebula is capable of creating hourglass or butterfly shapes like the one in this image. This is because material from the spreading star is funneled to its poles, with the help of the companion, creating the distinctive double-lobe structure seen in nebulae such as M1-63.