NASA has once again captivated space enthusiasts by sharing a stunning image of the Red Spider Nebula on Instagram. This planetary nebula, located 3,000 light-years away in the Sagittarius constellation, is a spectacle to behold. It harbours one of the hottest stars known in the universe, with surface temperatures soaring up to 250,000°C (450,000°F). The image, captured by the Hubble Space Telescope, showcases fiery red hues and a structure resembling a spider, leaving viewers in awe.

A Cosmic Marvel in Fiery Detail

The Hubble Space Telescope has outdone itself with this latest image. Against a backdrop of twinkling stars, the Red Spider Nebula features striking orange waves of hot gas. These encircle a glowing pinkish centre, creating an eerie resemblance to the legs of a black widow spider. NASA described the image as showing “orange waves of hot gas surrounding a pinkish core,” with the backdrop dotted with white points of light. The spider-leg-like arcs are formed by shockwaves, reaching heights of 62 billion miles (100 billion kilometres), generated by the intense heat of the star at the nebula’s centre.

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Social Media Reaction and Hubble’s Legacy

NASA’s Instagram post has sparked a wave of admiration from users. Comments poured in, with many calling the image "amazing," "beautiful," and "awesome." One user marvelled at "the extraordinary beauty of the cosmos," while another mused about how the nebula might look up close. Another user even joked that this is "the only spider I love and am not scared of."

The Hubble Space Telescope, launched on 24 April 1990, continues to be a cornerstone of astronomical research. Named after the renowned astronomer Edwin P. Hubble, it has made over 1.4 million observations, covering nearly 47,000 celestial objects. In its 30-year mission, the telescope.