Amateur astronomer captures ghostly outer shell of the Cat's Eye Nebula (photo)

The Cat's Eye Nebula, photographed by Emil Andronic. (Image credit: Emil Andronic.)

Amateur astrophotographer Emil Andronic has captured a striking image of the Cat's Eye Nebula from his home in Hertfordshire, United Kingdom, showcasing the tenuous outer structure of the famous deep-sky object.

The Cat's Eye Nebula, also known as NGC6543, formed when an aging sun-like star cast its outer layers into space, forming a dense central cocoon of dust surrounded by a diffuse veil of stellar material.