Cat's Eye Nebula

RA 17:59; Dec 66:38 (Draco)
Distance: 3000 ly
Type: planetary nebula
This is one of the most complex of the planetary nebulae. The HST images seem to indicate that the central star is actually a binary system and that the nebula we see today is actually the result of at least two separate events.
See the NASA press release for more info.

BB 5k jpg
(Bruce Balick)

1995 April 6