Is the Universe sending us Holiday Greetings?

This is as close as we are likely to get to a Christmas Greeting card from Space. The Wreath Nebula, complete with bow and silver bells, was photographed by NASA’s WISE telescope. This Holiday Greeting came to you from 1,000 light years away, and was delivered on time. How about that?

And whether the Universe really meant IRAS Ring G159.6–18.5 (It’s real name—Wreath Nebula is a convenient alias) as a Holiday Greeting to the people of Fluther, I do. Happy Holidays, everyone, and a prosperous New Year.