Silica

Two nearly symmetrical swirling loops of gas and dust mark the dying flickers of an ancient red giant star. Credit: International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA, TA Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage/NSF's NOIRLab), J. Miller (Gemini Observatory/NSF's NOIRLab), M. Rodriguez (Gemini Observatory/NSF's NOIRLab), M. Zamani ( NSF's NOIRLab)

An overflowing cosmic "urn" - a telescope captures the spectacular end-of-life display of a red giant

This end-of-life phase of red giant stars is relatively short, and the celestial structures that form around them are rare, so the Tobi Pitcher Nebula is an excellent example of a case study in the evolution of a star