Planetary nebula NGC 3132 in Vela

by: Nasa/Hubble heritage team/Novapix
Reference: a-nep31-32001
Date: 2006-10-26

NGC 3132 is a planetary nebula nearly half a light year in diameter, and at a distance of about 2,000 light-years. It is one of the nearest known planetary nebulae. The gases are expanding away from the central star at a speed of 9 miles per second. Image taken by the Hubble space telescope on december 7 1995.

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