The Eskimo Nebula,
NGC 2392, is probably
one of the most
majestic looking
planetary nebulae
in the sky. It is the glowing
remains
of a dying
star, which (to a remarkable degree)
resembles
a face surrounded by a fur
parka,
and can be found in the
constellation
Gemini.
The "parka" is really a disk of gas
and comet-shaped objects, with "tails"
streaming away from the central star.
The origin of these objects are still
unknown. One possible explanation
is that these objects formed from a
collision of slow- and fast-moving gases.
It is believed to be formed no more than
10,000 years ago, when the star began hurling
material into space. It was first
discovered in 1787 by William Herschel,
who also named it.
It is located about 5,000
light years from Earth.