NGC 6164 was created by a hot and bright O-type star that is about 40 times the size of Taeyang. This star, visible at the center of the cosmic cloud, has only been formed for about 3 to 4 million years. However, this star is expected to end its life in a supernova explosion in 3 million years. This nebula, spanning about 4 light-years (1 light-year is the distance light travels in one year, approximately 9.46 trillion kilometers), exhibits bipolar symmetry.
This photograph taken by a telescope is a composite of extensive narrowband image data, with bright atomic hydrogen gas emphasized in red and oxygen highlighted in green, showcasing broadband data about the surrounding star field. Known as the "Dragon's Egg" nebula, NGC 6164 is located 4,200 light-years away in the constellation Norma.