While Dragon celebrates its second crewed launch, Hubble is up there celebrating its 31st birthday. The launch of the Hubble was delayed to 1990 after the loss of the Space Shuttle Challenger, but there’s no denying this millennial’s glasses-wearing style. As a reminder that this great telescope still does great science, NASA and ESA released a stunning image of the massive star AG Carinae. 

With seventy times the mass of the Sun, this Luminous Blue Variable periodically undergoes violent outbursts during which it expels mass. In Hubble’s image, the star can be seen glowing brightly in the center of a ring of glowing material. This nebula is about five light-years across and is made of ten solar masses of material that AG Carinae has already blasted to space. For perspective, the Sun and the Alpha Centauri system could fit nicely within this bright halo.

More Information

NASA press release