NGC 6818 is located in the constellation of Sagittarius (The Archer), roughly 6000 light-years away from Earth.

When stars like the Sun are near end of life, they send their outer layers into space to create glowing clouds of gas, a planetary nebulae.

NGC 6818 shows knotty filament-like structures and distinct layers of material, with a bright and enclosed central bubble surrounded by a larger, more diffuse cloud.

Scientists believe that the stellar wind from the central star propels the outflowing material, forming the elongated shape of NGC 6818.

As this stellar wind moves through the slower-moving cloud it creates particularly bright spots in the bubble's outer layers.