Bow Shock

Zeta Oph, the bluish star near the center of this image lies about 460 light-years away and is 20 times as massive as the Sun. It's traveling through space at the breakneck speed of 24 km/second. It is theorized that Zeta Oph once belonged to a binary star system, and was flung into space after its more massive partner exploded as a supernova. The gas and dust surrounding

 the star is pushed and compacted by its stellar winds into a dramatic arcing shape, creating the "bow shock" effect seen here. Other clouds of interstellar material can be seen around this star, unaffected by the heat and force of Zeta Oph's stellar winds.