Stellar science
New light on our S
In the late stages of stellar evolution, a Sun-
like star’s envelope is blown away into the
surrounding interstellar medium, leaving the
hot exposed core. In this image of a planetary
nebula, the ultraviolet radiation from the core
illuminates the expelled gas and dust, creat-
ing the shape that gives it the name “Butterfly
Nebula.” In the future, only the core of the ini-
tial hydrogen-burning star — a white dwarf
— will remain. NASA/ESA/THE HUBBLE SM4 ERO TEAM