APOD: Bright Planetary Nebula NGC 7027... (2013 Aug 26)

[Guest]

It looks like a flying squirrel.

[Guest 20130826]

Pillow Nebula works for me, but if we need another option to consider how about the Ravioli Nebula?

[geckzilla]

What is up with that background star field?

Most of the spots in the image are cosmic rays striking the CCD, not stars. Processors usually clean them up and leave just the stars but that didn't happen this time.

Omm actually, ima pretty sure most of the 'trails' are actually galaxies, not cosmic rays. The odd color is because the image was overall adjusted to give the cool nebula a blue look.

There are no galaxies in the image.

Edit: Here is another image of the same object sans cosmic rays.
http://skycenter.arizona.edu/gallery/Nebulae/NGC7027

Click to view full size image

...Just look up for yourself any other image of this object and you'll find that the only one with this arrangement of spots and specks will be the Hubble data. That's because they cosmic ray strikes are unique for each time the telescope captures some image.

[Jim17700]

Obviously it is the Antarctica Nebula. The South Pole is clearly marked by the central star.

[GTK]

amoeba nebula

[JAPOLOPEC]

PILLOW NEBULA, DEFINITELY

[gma jeffreys]

It looks like a roasted marshmallow to me! Bring out the graham crackers and chocolate, and we'll have a treat!

[andtheafterglow]

It looks like a sea star.

My little sister passed away in May this year, in an accident. We were very close, and due to some childhood goofiness, we called each other "Seastar" instead of "sister". She was my Baby Seastar.

I'd like to see this named the Seastar Nebula. It reminds me of her, and it is shaped like a starfish, after all.


I love you, Baby Seastar.

[PRCox]

Toasted Marshmallow Nebula
... right before it catches fire.

[Jeannine]

Soap Bar Nebula or Wooly Nebula

[dbthumb]

The Brain Nebula

[Diegogarbus]

Hurricane's eye

[nmairs]

Jellyfish Nebula

[albondigas]

Ravioli

[Eggman]

The Sta- Puff Marshmallow Man nebula.

[harm]

dove nebula

[mikeolsen]

Looks like a wonton, possibly a Jeno's pizza roll (should've eaten dinner) Pillow Nebula is a good name too.

[Guest]

Three suggestions:
* The Snow Peak Nebula
* The Avalanche Nebula
* The Pyroclastic Cloud Nebula.

[DrMatt]

Postage Stamp nebula

[Lil black dog]

It looks like a glacier to me. Maybe The Glacier Nebula, or The North or South Pole Nebula. In sticking with the North Pole theme, I suppose it could be Santa's Workshop

[Astronmike]

the Dancing Star Nebula.

I will also ask my HS astronomy students and post their suggestions

[patrick stonehouse]

snow fort on starry pond

[dbail]

The flying squirrel nebula....

[44-40]

Rocky Road

[Johne]

It is obviously the Barbell Nebula!