Telescope in Chile captures stunning cosmic butterfly picture

Telescope in Chile captures stunning cosmic butterfly picture

November 28, 2025 / Liam Redmond /


CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A telescope in Chile has captured a stunning new picture of a grand and graceful cosmic butterfly.

The National Science Foundation’s NoirLab released the picture on Wednesday.

Snapped last month by the Gemini South telescope, the aptly named Butterfly Nebula is 2,500 to 3,800 light-years away in the constellation Scorpius. A single light-year is 6 trillion miles.


A telescope in Chile has captured a stunning new picture of a grand and graceful cosmic butterfly. AP

At the heart of this bipolar nebula is a white dwarf star that cast aside its outer layers of gas long ago.

The discarded gas forms the butterfly-like wings billowing from the aging star, whose heat causes the gas to glow.

Schoolchildren in Chile chose this astronomical target to celebrate 25 years of operation by the International Gemini Observatory.



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Liam Redmond

As an editor at Forbes Europe, I specialize in exploring business innovations and entrepreneurial success stories. My passion lies in delivering impactful content that resonates with readers and sparks meaningful conversations.

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