Sharpless 2-106: The Snow Angel

The bipolar star-forming region, called Sharpless 2-106, looks like a soaring, celestial snow angel.

The outstretched "wings" of the nebula record the contrasting imprint of heat and motion against the backdrop of a colder medium.

Twin lobes of super-hot gas, glowing blue in this image, stretch outward from the central star. 

This hot gas creates the "wings" of our angel. 

A ring of dust and gas orbiting the star acts like a belt, cinching the expanding nebula into an "hourglass" shape.

Image Credit: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)

Flowers: some potent, some facing extinction and some just stink up the place

Angel trumpet flowers

Angel trumpet flowers come from Colombia in South America.
In ancient times, the slaves and wives of dead Mayan kings were put to sleep by drinking a potion containing this innocent looking flower - and then buried alive.






Mauritian blue bell flower

Existing on only one cliff in Mauritius, this flower is highly endangered in the wild.

The lovely blue bell-shaped flower contains a sweet red nectar. If you were to shake the flower, your hands would be left bright red.