övergiven, spottad, begraven & k-pax

The hot, central star, O Herschel 36, is the primary source of the illuminating light for the brightest region in the nebula, called the Hourglass. The glare from this hot star is eroding the clouds by heating the hydrogen gas in them, seen as a blue mist. This activity drives away violent stellar winds that are tearing into the cool clouds.