Have you ever looked at the Eye of God?

[Tom Evans]

Just came across this short video today - www.tinyurl.com/eyeofgod.
It's also known as the Helix Nebula, the remnants of a supernova.
Watch it and stare at the centre of the eye.
Did you know we are all sentient stardust?
At least two generations of stars like this had to die.
Was this just so we could be alive and ask the question why?

[Bob Clay]

Sorry, I mean 4 or 5 billion YEARS away, not light years. (Jeez I gotta stop drinking Rum).

[Bob Clay]

At last got it to run (cough cough). The 3D effect is interesting, I'd like to know how they did that.

Planetary Nebula are beautiful, but sad, for they represent the final stages of a dying star, shedding it's outer layers before withering down to a tiny remnant. One day our Sun might do that, not explode, but shed it's outer layers in one final gasp of stardom. (Don't worry about it too much, it's about 4 or 5 billion light years away).
Nice link.

[Sherrie]

Taking in somthing like that reminds me of Psalm 19:1 "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." Thanks for sharing such an incredible visual.

[Tess Dickenson]

wow... I want to see it full screen instead of the small window... thanks for the share...

[Sister Two Moons]

Tom,

I could have sworn that I "saw" the image of a Roman soldier's head, adorned in plumed helmet, in the midst of this phantasmagorical event. Maybe I need another glass of wine.

Sister Two Moons

[Bob Clay]

I couldn't get the video to run, but I am familiar with the Helix Nebula.

Another 'eyeball in the sky' you might like to look at is the Hourglass nebula, also a planetary nebula (nothing to do with planets, but the remnant of a dying star).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MyCn18

Planetary nebulas are quite the most beautiful things in the nightsky ... search Google images for 'planetary nebula' and you'll see what I mean.