IC 1318: The Butterfly Nebula in Gas and Dust

In the constellation of the swan near the nebula of the pelican lies the gas cloud of the butterfly next to a star known as the hen. That star, given the proper name Sadr , is just to the right of the featured frame, but the central Butterfly Nebula , designated IC 1318, is shown in high resolution. The intricate patterns in the bright gas and dark dust are caused by complex interactions between interstellar winds , radiation pressures, magnetic fields, and gravity. The featured telescopic view captures IC 1318 's characteristic emission from ionized sulfur , hydrogen , and oxygen atoms mapped to the red, green, and blue hues of the popular Hubble Palette . The portion of the Butterfly Nebula pictured spans about 100 light years and lies about 4000 light years away.