eso1412 òÀÔ Photo Release
Chance Meeting Creates Celestial Diamond Ring
9 April 2014: Astronomers using ESOòÀÙs Very Large Telescope in Chile have captured this eye-catching image of planetary nebula PN A66 33 òÀÔ usually known as Abell 33. Created when an aging star blew off its outer layers, this beautiful blue bubble is, by chance, aligned with a foreground star, and bears an uncanny resemblance to a diamond engagement ring. This cosmic gem is unusually symmetric, appearing to be almost circular on the sky.