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                           Astronomy Picture of the Day   
      
       Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our   
         fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation   
                       written by a professional astronomer.   
      
                                   2025 April 16   
          A dark starfield is dominated by a green nebula with intricate   
        filaments all around. At the center is a bright glow surrounding a   
      central star. Please see the explanation for more detailed information.   
      
                               Halo of the Cat's Eye   
          Image Credit & Copyright: Taavi Niittee (T++rva Astronomy Club)   
      
      Explanation: What created the unusual halo around the Cat's Eye Nebula?   
      No one is sure. What is sure is that the Cat's Eye Nebula (NGC 6543) is   
      one of the best known planetary nebulae on the sky. Although haunting   
      symmetries are seen in the bright central region, this image was taken   
      to feature its intricately structured outer halo, which spans over   
      three light-years across. Planetary nebulae have long been appreciated   
      as a final phase in the life of a Sun-like star. Only recently however,   
      have some planetaries been found to have expansive halos, likely formed   
      from material shrugged off during earlier puzzling episodes in the   
      star's evolution. While the planetary nebula phase is thought to last   
      for around 10,000 years, astronomers estimate the age of the outer   
      filamentary portions of the Cat's Eye Nebula's halo to be 50,000 to   
      90,000 years.   
      
                         Tomorrow's picture: star cylinder   
        __________________________________________________________________   
      
          Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)   
               NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply.   
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