Deep sky · Planetary nebula in Lyra · M 57 · NGC 6720
M 57
Ring Nebula
The Ring Nebula: a smoke ring blown by a dying star, hanging between two stars of Lyra.
- Type
- Planetary nebula
- Designations
- M 57 · NGC 6720
- Constellation
- Lyra
- Apparent magnitude
- 8.8
- Apparent size
- 4′ × 2′
- Position (J2000)
- RA 18h 54m · Dec +33° 02′
Look for
Aim halfway between Sheliak and Sulafat. Even a small telescope shows a tiny grey doughnut.
Science
We see it end-on: it is really a barrel or a hollow tube of gas. The white dwarf at its centre is hotter than 100,000 °C.