PK 164+31.1, commonly known as the Headphone Nebula, is a planetary nebula located approximately 1,600 light-years away in the constellation Lynx. This cosmic remnant marks the final evolutionary phase of a low-to-intermediate mass star, where the star expels its outer layers, leaving behind a hot, dense core—a white dwarf. The nebula’s symmetrical structure, resembling a pair of headphones, consists of ionized gases primarily composed of hydrogen and oxygen. These gases glow as they are energized by the intense ultraviolet radiation emitted by the central white dwarf, which is visible as a faint point of light at the center of the nebula.

Discovered in 1939, the Headphone Nebula is notable for its relatively large size and well-defined structure compared to many other planetary nebulae. The nebula’s intricate patterns are shaped by the interaction of the stellar winds from the progenitor star with the surrounding interstellar medium. As the gas expands outward, it cools and forms complex shells and filaments that trace the final stages of stellar evolution. Studying objects like PK 164+31.1 provides valuable insights into the lifecycle of stars similar to our Sun and the enrichment of the interstellar medium with heavier elements essential for future star formation.