The Flaming Skull Nebula (also known as Sh2-68) is the ancient
remnant of a star that reached the end of its life and jettisoned
its outer layers, forming a "planetary nebula." In this image, the
red areas of the nebula are from hydrogen and the blue areas are oxygen.
As the star and its envelope of ejected gas continue their orbit in the Milky Way
Galaxy, interstellar gas and dust blocks, erodes, and shapes the
nebula, forming this striking shape.
The Flaming Skull is located in the constellation Serpens Cauda.

Image data:
Telescope: PlaneWave CDK 17"
Exposure: 51 1/2 hours (LRGB + Hydrogen-alpha + Oxygen III)
Location: Observatorio El Sauce, Chile