The Shrimp Nebula features a fast-moving white-dwarf core
On September 29, 2026, NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day highlighted Sh2-188, known as the Shrimp Nebula. This large planetary nebula is notable for its unusual speed as it travels through interstellar space.
According to NASA, Sh2-188 is one of the largest planetary nebulae visible in the night sky by angular size, covering roughly half the diameter of the Moon [S1:p2]. The nebula contains a white-dwarf core, which is the remaining part of a star similar to our Sun that has released its outer layers [S1:p2].
The nebula's high velocity through space creates a bow shock, visible primarily on the upper left, which resembles a boat moving through water [S1:p2]. This movement also causes the compression and brightening of gas at the nebula's leading edge [S1:p2]. The featured image was captured using a backyard telescope in Krakow, Poland, using filters for oxygen, sulfur, and hydrogen [S1:p2].
Source: APOD: 2026 September 29 – Sh2-188: The Shrimp Nebula
