The Shapley One

Today's exploration journal is embargoed until I come home and sell the data because I found my first Earthlike, yay.  But I also came across the Fine Ring Nebula or Shapley 1.

From Earth's telescopes it appears very similar to the Ring Nebula in Lyra.  It is around 1,000 light years from Sol.  In the game itself it is simply stunning,

As you approach the system at first it looks like a regular blue giant star, but a few jumps closer and you can clearly see the ring.

I took this picture from a neighbouring system 3.25 light years away, the closest viewing position.  It looks like some sort of stellar rift in Star Trek.

 And of course, it makes a great photographic subject for the selfie cam.

Inside?  It is powered by a giant Wolf Rayet Star, which has ejected the gas torus at some point in its turbulent if brief life.

System Map of Shapley 1

As with most nebulae you get a much better view of it from outside, but internally the gas torus creates a blue glow all around the Milky Way.

Moving on and looking back its still a lovely sight within 10 light years.