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Stunning Butterfly Nebula Image Celebrates 25 Years of Discovery

12/1/2025

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Summary

Story summary

A telescope in Chile captured a striking image of the Butterfly Nebula.
The image was released by the National Science Foundation's NoirLab on its 25th anniversary.
The Butterfly Nebula lies 2,500 to 3,800 light-years away in Scorpius.
A white dwarf expelled the nebula's outer gas layers.
Schoolchildren in Chile selected this target to commemorate the International Gemini Observatory's anniversary, which includes telescopes in Hawaii and Chile.

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Story summary

A telescope in Chile captured a striking image of the Butterfly Nebula.
The image was released by the National Science Foundation's NoirLab on its 25th anniversary.
The Butterfly Nebula lies 2,500 to 3,800 light-years away in Scorpius.
A white dwarf expelled the nebula's outer gas layers.
Schoolchildren in Chile selected this target to commemorate the International Gemini Observatory's anniversary, which includes telescopes in Hawaii and Chile.