Description:
NGC 6543 represents the final stages of a dying star similar in mass to our Sun. As the star exhausts its nuclear fuel, it expels its outer layers into space, forming the complex, glowing shell of ionized gas we see as the nebula.
What makes the Cat's Eye Nebula especially remarkable is its intricate structure: multiple concentric shells, knots, and filaments, likely shaped by interactions with stellar winds and possible binary companions.
At its center lies a hot, bright white dwarf — the remnant core of the original star — emitting intense ultraviolet radiation that causes the surrounding gas to glow. Detailed Hubble Space Telescope images have revealed the nebula’s highly symmetric yet layered appearance, giving it its famous "cat's eye" resemblance.