The Helix Nebula in the constellation Aquarius

 

The Helix planetary nebula. Data from the PIRATE robotic telescope Mount Teide, Open University. telescope.org. Infra red data added from the NASA WISE space telescope. Data processed by Kurt Thrust

"Also known as 'The Eye of Sauron', the Helix planetary nebula is the remnant from a star that has run out of fuel to fuse and collapsed by gravity to create a white dwarf star and expanding clouds of dust and ionized gas. A white dwarf star is the very hot core of a star which was once roughly the size of our Sun. The Helix Nebula is 655 light years from the Earth and as such is one of the closest planetary nebula.

In the very centre of the nebula you can see the white dwarf star shining brightly and losing heat". - Karl Segin outreach officer at the Jodrell Plank Observatory.