Ring Nebula (M57)
Also known as M57 · M 57 · Ring Nebula · NGC 6720
Ring Nebula (M57) is a planetary nebula in the constellation Lyra, about 2,750 light-years from Earth.
Facts
| Type | Planetary nebula (spectral type DA(O?)) |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Lyra |
| Position (J2000) | 18h 53m 35s, +33° 01′ |
| Distance | 2,750 light-years (its light set off about 2,750 years ago) |
| Brightness | magnitude 15.77 (smaller is brighter; the faintest stars the eye sees are about 6) |
| Size on the sky | 1.2′ × 1.2′ (the full Moon is about 31′) |
| Filter | OIII filter (Planetary nebulae and supernova remnants shine mostly in the green light of doubly ionised oxygen: an OIII filter passes it and darkens the sky around it.) |
| Studied in | 873 scientific papers (SIMBAD) |
When and how to see it
Ring Nebula (M57) is highest in the sky at midnight in July. From India (about 20° N) it climbs to about 77° above the horizon; from 50° N, to about 73°. To see it you need a large telescope or long-exposure photos.
Heights are worked out for India and for 50° N. Set your location in Settings to see them for where you are.
For tonight's best time from your own town, the darkness and the Moon, open it on the map and see its "Tonight from your location" card.
More in Lyra
Everything in Lyra · All 88 constellations · All sky objects
Data: SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg; the site's weekly copy) · OpenNGC · Data sources & credits