In a universe measuring processes over millions of billions of years, the Hubble Space Telescope has seen something extraordinary in just two decades. The Stringray Nebula faded from bright in 1996 to 2016, as if it were hanging on a cosmic drawing line.

Stingray, also known as Hen 3-1357, was hailed as the youngest known planetary nebula when it was first observed. At the end of the star’s life, the nebula formed, emitting glowing gases that gave it a sea-like appearance.

What’s so bad about the Nebula is the radical makeover that has passed in a short period of time. “Changes like this have never been captured in this clarity before,” NASA said in a statement Thursday, Called the “rare form of rapidly disappearing gas around an aging star”.

Hubble is operated jointly by NASA and the European Space Agency (ISA). Astronomers pay attention Described by both agencies “Unprecedented” changes. The nebula emits a lot of nitrogen (red), hydrogen (blue) and oxygen (green), which gives it a brighter and brighter image.

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“It’s very dramatic and very strange.” Hubble team member Martin Guerrero said Of the Instituto de Astrophysica de Andalusia in Spain. “What we are witnessing is the evolution of a nebula in real time.”

The culprit is most likely the central star inside the nebula The heat rose rapidly Followed by a cooling phase. Hubble seems to have been lucky enough to take pictures when he captured a scene before and after the wild swing of the nebula. At this rate, NASA estimates that it will not be detectable for a few decades.

Of NASA Hubble Twitter account hopped “How it started / How it goes” Images before and after the nebula.

Despite being in orbit for a remarkable 30 years, Hubble continues to provide us with incredible cosmic discoveries. Views that shatter the spirit of the distant universe To Beautiful portraits of Jupiter.