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Space Telescope Science Institute @stsci.edu · 10/08/2026

#NASAWebb imaged the Lion Nebula in near- and mid-infrared light just in time for #WorldLionDay. The composite view highlights the gas and dust structures sculpted by the dying star, and additional details about the dust shine in mid-infrared light: news.stsci.edu/4wiuWxr

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Space Telescope Science Institute @stsci.edu · 10/08/2026

#NASAWebb imaged the Lion Nebula in near- and mid-infrared light just in time for #WorldLionDay. The stellar core, looking like the lion’s “nose,” is responsible for sculpting the nebula’s complex gas and dust structures: news.stsci.edu/4x639kM

$Planetary nebula NGC 2392, the Lion Nebula, against the black background of space. The nebula is at center, circular in shape, and looks like a male lion’s head. In the very center is a small, pinkish-white circle with eight-point diffraction spikes, a white dwarf star. Surrounding the star are light purple-pink cavernous bubbles and shell-like rings. The bubbles and shells collectively form an oval with two small, wide arcs near the top, reminiscent of a lion’s face and its ears. What appears to be extended outward from the lion’s face is a thick ring of purple-blue material. The width of the ring is consistent throughout and resembles a mane. The area closest to the lion’s face looks cloudy, while the edges of the mane look like there are clumps of dust with comet-like tails and strands. In the background are distant galaxies and stars. Some galaxies appear as yellow and orange points of light and others with visible spiral structures. A couple of the stars have diffraction spikes.$

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