M57 - The Ring Nebula
Mon Aug 11 2025
The Ring Nebula in the constellation Lyra is one of the most famous sights in the summer sky, a glowing smoke ring puffed out by a dying star. When a Sun-like star runs out of fuel, it sheds its outer layers into space, and its exposed hot core lights them up from within. This was a quick capture squeezed in between other projects, but it is a rewarding little target.
About this object
- Type
- Planetary Nebula
- Constellation
- Lyra (the Harp)
- Distance
- ~2,600 light-years
- Apparent magnitude
- 8.8
- Apparent size
- 1.3′
- Also known as
- Ring Nebula
- Catalogue designations
- M 57, NGC 6720
Acquisition
- Antlia 3nm Narrowband H-alpha 36 mm: 16 × 2m (32m)
- Antlia 3nm Narrowband Oxygen III 36 mm: 20 × 2m (40m)
- Total integration: 1h 12m
Equipment
- Telescope / Lens: Celestron C8
- Camera: ZWO ASI2600MM Pro
- Mount: Celestron CGEM II
- Filters: Antlia 3nm Narrowband H-alpha 36 mm, Antlia 3nm Narrowband Oxygen III 36 mm
- Guiding scope: SVBony SV106 60mm Guide Scope
- Guiding camera: ZWO ASI174MM Mini
- Accessories: Celestron 0.63X SCT Reducer (94175), ZWO EFW 7 x 36mm
- Software: Pleiades Astrophoto PixInsight
Astrophotography by David Joyce, AstroDavido.