It is real?
Yes, but sadly also, a very definitive no.
The chevrons are difficult to capture and kudos for that.
But a little research on images from larger/deeper/sharper instruments (M&T's 0.5 metre CDK benchmark 34 hour image, as a case in point.
....so over 3x the data there)
will show there is structure in this well known object, that has been smoothed over and/or has been exaggerated in processing, to beyond what is really here.
Sure a cliche' but the light has not been respected....the helix does not have a dark inner pupil.
And despite the Colgate toothpaste adverts, Jennifer Hawkin's skin really does have pores.
Bugger...I guess Red Symonds and I have similar synaptic pathways.
