A dying star, approximately 1,000 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cygnus, is putting on a spectacular light show, captured in unprecedented detail by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope. The images, released Wednesday, February 10, 2026, reveal the intricate structure of the Egg Nebula, a pre-planetary nebula offering a rare glimpse into the final stages of a Sun-like star’s life.
The nebula, also known as CRL 2688, is characterized by a dense cloud of dust obscuring the central star, resembling an “egg white” surrounding a “yolk.” Hubble’s sharp vision has unveiled previously unseen details within this structure, including twin beams of light illuminating swift-moving lobes of gas and dust. These beams emerge from a dusty disk expelled from the star’s surface just a few hundred years ago, piercing through slower, older concentric arcs.
Scientists believe the shapes and motions of these features suggest gravitational interactions with one or more hidden companion stars buried within the dust disk. This makes the Egg Nebula a crucial object for testing theories of late-stage stellar evolution. The nebula is the first, youngest, and closest pre-planetary nebula ever discovered, providing an ideal opportunity to study the process of stellar death while the “forensic evidence remains fresh,” according to NASA.
Pre-planetary nebulae represent a brief transitional phase – lasting only a few thousand years – between a star exhausting its fuel and becoming a planetary nebula. Planetary nebulae, despite their name, are not related to planets but are structures of gas and dust formed from the ejected layers of a dying star. The Egg Nebula’s symmetrical patterns are too orderly to be the result of a violent explosion like a supernova, indicating a more controlled ejection process.
The newly released images were taken with Hubble’s Wide Field Camera 3. At this early phase, the nebula shines by reflecting light from its central star, which escapes through a polar “eye” in the surrounding dust. Observations reveal fast-moving polar lobes illuminated by the dying star, and the presence of hot molecular hydrogen outflowing from either side of the disk-shaped cloud.
The Egg Nebula was first discovered in 1975. Its rarity and short lifespan make it challenging to observe, but Hubble’s capabilities have allowed astronomers to gain unprecedented insights into the processes shaping this enigmatic structure. Further analysis, comparing these novel images with previous Hubble observations, is expected to reveal more about the nebula’s evolution.
