m57 nebulae and ic1296 galaxy above the neb

1hr 25 min c-11 f6.3 canon 1000d i no i have uploaded a few of these but the galaxy came out in this one so what the hay right M-57 is probably the most famous Planetary Nebula in the sky. Although small, it's bright 'smoke-ring' shape is unmistakable even in a small 4-inch telescope. It is thus a favorite target at summer star parties and it never fails to delight visitors viewing it for the first time through a telescope.

The background galaxy to the upper right of M-57 is 15th magnitude spiral galaxy IC 1296.

French astronomer Antoine Darquier discovered M-57 in 1779 while observing a comet. Charles Messier independently discovered it shortly thereafter. These early observers' impressions show that they did not really understand what the ring was..



M-57’s central white dwarf star (old stellar core) has an extremely high surface temperature. Ultra-violet light from this star causes oxygen in the nebula to glow a ghostly green, and hydrogen to glow red. Also, where the expanding shell runs into the interstellar gas (hydrogen) shock causes it to glow red also.

Distances to Planetary Nebulae are difficult to determine. A very rough estimate for M-57’s distance is 1,400 light years.




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M-57, NGC 6720
Magnitude: 9.0
Constellation: Lyra
RA: 18h 53m 36.0s
Dec: +33d 02' 00" Epoch 2000
Size (mins) 2.5
Classification: Planetary nebula, irregular.