The Butterfly Nebula, designated IC 1318, is shown here in high resolution, in the constellation of the swan. Intricate patterns in the bright gas and dark dust are caused by complex interactions between interstellar winds, radiation pressures, magnetic fields, and gravity. This view captures the nebula’s characteristic emission from ionized sulfur, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms mapped to red, green, and blue hues. This portion of the Butterfly Nebula spans about 100 light years and lies about 4000 light years away.
