How cool!
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NGC 6302, known as the Butterfly Nebula, is a spectacular bipolar planetary nebula in the constellation Scorpius. The nebula’s butterfly structure is formed by ejected material from a dying star. NGC 6302 is located 3,800 light-years from Earth and estimated to be 2,000 years old. Its wings extend 3 light-years from the star and consist of gas clouds expanding at 100 km/s.
The central star of the Butterfly Nebula is the hottest known star in the universe, with a surface temperature reaching 222,204°C (400,000°F). The nebula’s wings formed 900 years ago, while features range from 1200 to 2300 years in age. Edward Emerson Barnard discovered the Butterfly Nebula in 1888 using the Lick Observatory’s 36-inch refracting telescope.
