Webb Telescope Reveals Stunning Details of the “Exposed Cranium” Nebula

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has captured unprecedented details of PMR 1, a nebula surrounding a dying star that strikingly resembles a human skull. The images, released on February 25, 2026, offer new insights into the nebula’s structure and evolution.

What is the “Exposed Cranium” Nebula?

PMR 1 is a planetary nebula, formed when a star in its final stages of life ejects a shell of gas and dust. First detected by NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope in 2014, the nebula gained the nickname “Exposed Cranium” due to its visual similarity to a brain within a skull. Webb’s advanced instruments have provided a significantly sharper and more detailed view than previously possible. [NASA]

Two Views: Near-Infrared and Mid-Infrared

The latest images were captured using two of Webb’s key instruments: the Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) and the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI). Observing the nebula in different wavelengths of light reveals different aspects of its composition and structure. [NASA]

NIRCam’s Perspective

The NIRCam image shows a bright, white outer bubble with orange glowing clouds within. A prominent vertical dark band creates the illusion of two hemispheres, mimicking the structure of a human brain. Distant stars and galaxies are visible through the outer shell of the nebula in this near-infrared light. [NASA]

MIRI’s Perspective

In the MIRI image, the outer bubble appears bluish-purple, and the internal clouds are thicker and more complex. The dark band is less visible, partially obscured by dense dust and gas. This view highlights the role of the band in the ejection of material from the top and bottom of the nebula. [NASA]

Understanding Stellar Evolution

The differences between the NIRCam and MIRI images provide scientists with a more complete understanding of the processes occurring within the nebula. The dark band observed in NIRCam is linked to twin gas eruptions at the top and bottom of the nebula, as revealed by MIRI. [NASA]

The nebula’s structure also reveals insights into different stages of stellar evolution:

• Outer Shell: Primarily composed of hydrogen gas released early in the star’s life.
• Deep Clouds: A mixture of gas and dust ejected more recently.

The Fate of the Central Star

The future of the star at the center of PMR 1 depends on its mass. It will likely either explode as a supernova or gradually shed its remaining layers, ultimately becoming a dense, shriveled core known as a white dwarf star. [NASA]

About the James Webb Space Telescope

The James Webb Space Telescope launched on December 25, 2021, and reached its orbit around the Sun at the second Lagrange point (L2) on January 24, 2022. It orbits 1.5 million kilometers (1 million miles) from Earth, allowing it to study every phase of the universe’s history. [NASA]

Nebula Details

• Constellation: Vela
• Distance: 5,000 light-years
• Dimensions: Approximately 2.2 arcminutes across (about 3.2 light-years) [NASA]