Eye of God Helix Nebula Red Blue Stellar Clouds Cushion

The Eye of God is the Helix Nebula, first discovered in the early nineteenth century. This spectacular phenomenon is formed from the emissions of a star in the final stages of its life. As the outer layers of the star expand, the inner core heats up and becomes denser, emitting ultraviolet radiation that reacts with the star's expelled layers to create a visible fog or nebula. The hot inner core will eventually become a white dwarf star. The outer layers of the star are currently expanding at a rate of about 40 km (24.8 miles) per second, while the inner layers expand at about 32 km (19.8 miles) per second. The Eye of God is located in the Aquarius constellation, a mere 700 light years from Earth.