NGC 1514, often called the Crystal Ball Nebula, is a planetary nebula in the constellation Taurus, formed when a Sun-like star shed its outer layers near the end of its life. The expanding shell of ionized gas is energized by a hot central star system, causing oxygen-rich regions to glow blue while revealing a complex, layered structure that hints at multiple episodes of mass loss. The nebula lies roughly 1,500 light-years away and spans about two light-years across.

Set against a dense, star-filled background, this view emphasizes the nebula’s translucent appearance and softly contoured edges, giving it a floating, glass-like quality. Captured from New Delhi, India, the image contrasts the delicate, luminous gas with warm-colored field stars, highlighting both the fragile beauty of stellar death and the richness of the surrounding Milky Way.