Dumbbell Nebula
As far as we know supernovas, which super-giant starts explode are the most catastrophic events in the Universe. The Dumbbell Nebula is an example of the less horrific death that smaller stars experience. This type of star-death nebula is known as a "planetary nebula." The misnomer was a place-holder name assigned by astronomers of the 1700s who assumed that once future astronomers had a better understanding of what these mostly symmetrical, normally round-ish clouds really were, a less misleading name would arise. Nope! Science has understood the true nature of these objects for decades now and we still cling to the terrible name. Hang this art on your wall. Gaze upon from time to time, ponder what you know about this type of star-death nebulae and perhaps you will be inspired to come up the perfect better name that has evaded astronomers for so long. To get you started, here's the basic story.
As this star reached advanced age it could no longer accomplish basic nuclear fusion because it first exhausted its supply hydrogen fuel as it swelled to gigantic size and then collapsed closer to it original size. That collapse increased its temperature enough that it could survive by fusing helium -- the byproduct of hydrogen fusion. Unlike gigantic stars it never achieved a high enough temperature to atoms larger than helium so as it ballooned up diameter a 2nd time it instead began to break apart flinging its outer layers into deep space destroying everything that once orbited this star. The expanding debris field continues to glow as illuminated by infrared energy coming off star's hot core.
The future of the Dumbbell nebula is that eventually it's core will cool enough that it no longer emits light energy, thus becoming a white dwarf. Without that illumination the debris field will fade to the point of no longer being detectable.
At 1400 light years away (fairly close), and fully 3.2 light years in diameter (much bigger than most), it's not surprising that back in 1764, the Dumbbell was the first planetary nebulae to be discovered. It is distinct enough to be visible through our larger telescopes even on full moon nights.
On a dark night, the more sensitive eyes of children can begin to detect the blue green color of the debris field. Even it just appears grey to you, perhaps you would agree that "MRI of an Apple Core Nebula" or "Semi-transparent Marshmallow Wearing a Belt Nebula" would be a better name for this particular planetary nebula. But the higher priority is that we REALLY need to come up with a better name than planetary nebula to describe this type of star-death nebula.
