Crazy Cats Eye

NASAs Chandra X Ray Observatory captures the stunning Cats Eye Nebula in vivid pink. The nebula, also known as NGC 6543, is in the constellation Draco and was first discovered in 1786. This image is part of a recent study published August 2012 in The Astronomical Journal examining 21 planetary nebulas within 5000 light years of our own planet. Despite their name, planetary nebulas are not planets, but dying stars that have used up their hydrogen cores and expanded. Our own sun will become a planetary nebula in several billion years.