M 57
M 57
The famous ring nebula M57 is often regarded as the prototype of a planetary nebula, and a showpiece in the northern hemisphere summer sky. Recent research has confirmed that it is, most probably, actually a ring (torus) of bright material surrounding its central star, and not a spherical (or ellipsoidal) shell. Viewed from this plane, it would thus more resemble the Dumbbell Nebula M27 than its current appearance from here: We happen to view it from near one pole.
Bill Arnett's Ring Nebula M57 photo page, info page.
| Right ascension | 18 : 51.7 (hours : minutes) |
|---|---|
| Declination | +32 : 58 (degrees : minutes) |
| Distance | 4.1 (light-years*10^3) |
| Visual magnitude | 9.3 |
