Ring Nebula (M57)

The Ring Nebula, also designated as M57 or NGC 6720, is one of the most famous examples of a planetary nebula. It is located in the constellation Lyra and is approximately 2,300 light-years from Earth.

It was formed when a star similar to our Sun cast off its outer layers into the surrounding space at the end of its life. The remaining core – a white dwarf – stays in the center, and its radiation ionizes the ejected gas, which then glows in various colors. The result is the characteristic ring shape from which the nebula gets its name.

M57 is a popular target for astrophotographers and visual observers alike, not only because of its distinct structure but also because of its location – it is situated almost exactly between two bright stars in Lyra, β and γ Lyrae, making it easy to find in the sky.

Acquisition

My first attempt at a DSO – a Deep Sky Object, meaning a deep space object that isn't, for example, a single star or an object within our solar system. I chose the planetary nebula M57, or the Ring Nebula. It has a beautiful (almost) circular shape and is nicely colorful 😄.