This object is perhaps most fascinating for what it is not - a planetary nebula. The star is a rare O-type star, a hot blue-white giant 40 times the Sun's mass. Why is the not a Planetary nebula? Because the star is not on a pathway to white dwarf status. On the contrary, in 3-4 million years it is expected to go supernova! See:
https://science.nasa.gov/ngc-6164-dragons-egg-nebula-and-haloThe designation NGC 6164 plates solves specifically to the right bi-polar ejection (seen here in orange) and the left solves as NGC 6165. Aladin places both 6165 and 6164 squarely on the central star which I presume represents the entire nebula of the star.
The two small bi-polar ejection clouds appear as orange/yellow here as they are strongest in SII. Most of the other features of the brighter core nebula are strong in both Ha and OIII. In the outer nebula OIII is dominant rendering it blue while the brightest wisps of Ha produce whitish highlights. Another interesting structure is the cone that seems to be building near the central star. This shows in both OIII and Ha.
There is a portion of the central nebulosity that appears the same blue color as the outer nebula. To my eye it appears to to the outer nebula. I think this may actually be in front of the star and we are looking at part of the central nebula and the star through the outer OIII glow.
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