M57

Ring Nebula

 

Object M57 -- Planetary Nebula
Constellation Lyra
Date Aquired 09/02/2002
Camera ST-7E w/CFW-8 and AO-7
Exposure 9x5Min L, 5X5Min R (2x2), 5x5 Min Green (2x2), 5X8Min Blue (2x2)
Telescope Celestron 11" SCT @f/09 F9 11 02 9D 74 E3 5B D8 41 56 C5 63 56 88 C0
Mount Losmandy G11

 

One of the showpiece objects in the sky, this is M57, the Ring Nebula in Lyra.  About 5000 years ago, the star in the center of the nebula threw off its outer layers of gas and became a white dwarf.  It lies about 2500 light years away.

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