Planetary nebulae are fascinating astronomical phenomena that occur at the end of a star's life cycle. When a medium-sized star, like our Sun, exhausts its nuclear fuel, it expels its outer layers into space, creating a glowing shell of gas and dust. This process reveals the star's core, which becomes a hot, dense remnant known as a white dwarf. The expelled material from a planetary nebula can form beautiful and intricate shapes, often illuminated by the intense radiation from the central star. These nebulae play a crucial role in enriching the interstellar medium with heavy elements, contributing to the formation of new stars and planets in the universe.