Helix Nebula

Helix Nebula - The shapes of planetary nebula like the Helix are important because they likely hold clues to how stars like the Sun end their lives. lt's a single Sun-like star that created such beautiful yet geometric complexity. The Helix Nebula is the nearest planetary nebula to Earth, lies only about 700 light years away toward the constellation of Aquarius, and spans about 3 light-years. — at lmage Credit: C.R. O'Dell/Vanderbilt/ESA/NASA .