This is the Hourglass Nebula. It has a similar shape to Eta Carinae. The arrow in the above image points to the central star. An enlargement of the this area is shown below. This part of the nebulae has been referred to as, "the Eye of God."
The Hourglass Nebula, 8,000 light years away, has a "pinched-in-the-middle" look because the winds that shape it are weaker at the center.
The Hourglass Nebula, 8,000 light years away, has a "pinched-in-the-middle" look because the winds that shape it are weaker at the center.
