This image shows the flaming star AE Aurigae, surrounded by the aptly named Flaming Star Nebula. The star is not flaming, due to a lack of adequate oxygen for fire to appear, but it does appear to be surrounded in thick plumes of smoke. This is actually hydrogen which contains traces of carbon-rich dust, which appears dark and cloudy like smoke. The bright flaming star is in fact so hot it looks blue. The nebula is pictured 1500 light years away and is about 5 light years across.
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