The planetary nebula NGC 6302, in the constellation Scorpius, is commonly called the Bug Nebula because its two lobes of gas look somewhat like the wings of a butterfly. The nebula may appear peculiar, but its bipolar structure is actually quite common, occurring in 70 percent of all planetary nebulae.
The central star that created NGC 6302 exploded in opposite directions; in some stars, a crucial featureΓÇöperhaps related to their magnetic poles or to the way they rotateΓÇöcauses them to explode in this manner.
The elements of which the Bug Nebula is composedΓÇömainly hydrogen and nitrogenΓÇöaccount for its extremely red color. The color is further enhanced by the
