This image depicts a star named IC 4406 in its final death throes. What's seen here is actually the side of a distinctive 'donut' shape commonly seen in dying stars, giving a beautiful spectrum of colours in a smear across space. When viewed from above, the donut shape is identical on both sides, giving IC 4406 almost perfect symmetry. Because of the distinctive tendrils, IC 4406 draws parallels to the retina of our eyes, earning it the name of the 'Retina Nebula.'
13. Bruised Jupiter
Not only is this an incredibly beautiful, true-colour photo of Jupiter, but it also gives us a detailed look at the planet's 'bruise.' This bruise can be seen at the bottom of the image, in the form of a dark smudge near the southern pole of Jupiter. The smudge is the result of debris from the impact of an asteroid or comet that smashed into Jupiter's atmosphere. The image itself is one of the best and sharpest of the gas giant so far, taken by the Wide Field Camera 3 on board the Hubble Telescope.
