An ancient red giant star created a rare 'bipolar' nebula as it died (photo)

An image of the nebula IC 2220 shed by a dying red dwarf star as seen by the Gemini south telescope

The stellar wreckage left by the death throes of a giant red star takes the appearance of an overflowing cosmic jug in a stunning new image.

The observation made by the Gemini South telescope, part of the International Gemini Observatory, shows a cloud of gas and dust shed by a star as it swelled up during its red giant phase and created a rare double-lobed planetary nebula. The nebula, located around 1,200 light-years away in the direction of the constellation Carina (the Keel), may also contain the remains of a companion star to the red giant, which was shredded long ago.