The Helix Nebula from Blanco and Hubble . ... ESA , NASA Explanation: How did a star create the Helix nebula ? The shapes of planetary nebula like the Helix are important because they likely hold clues to how stars like the Sun end their lives. Recent observations by the orbiting Hubble Space Telescope and the 4-meter Blanco Telescope in Chile , however, have shown the Helix is not really a simple helix . ... Even so, many strikingly geometric symmetries remain. ... NASA Official: Jay Norris. ...