When astronomers first studied this object, they thought they were seeing two, so the two lobes of this planetary nebula were cataloged as NGC 2371 and NGC 2372. Now, the object is often called NGC 2371/2. NGC 2371/2 formed when a Sun-like star reached the end of its life and blew off its outer layers, shedding gas and dust and pushing material out into space to leave a dying, superheated star. That remnant is the bright star between the two lobes at the middle of the image.

Image Credit: NASA / ESA