Messier 57
The Ring Nebula, also known as M57, is one of the most impressive and well known planetary nebula's. It is the remains of a red giant star that exploded sometime in the distant past. First discovered by Antoine Darquier de Pellepoix in 1779, it was cataloged by Charles Messier that same year. Click on the image for a close up of the Ring Nebula. |
| Telescope: Astro-Physics 160mm EDF f7.5 @ f7.7 | Designation: M57 or NGC 6720 |
Mount: Astro-Physics AP1200GTO |
Constellation: Lyra |
| Camera: Apogee U16M with Gen II Astrodon Filters | Distance: Approx 23,000 Light Years |
| Guiding: SBIG ST402 via Mini Borg 60mm | Type: Planetary Nebula |
| Exposure: 6 hours total rgb | Position: R.A. 18 hr 53 min , Dec +33001' |
| Processed using CCDStack, PhotoShop CS3 | Date: August 2010 |
| Acquisition: CCDAutopilot/CCDSoft/The Sky 6/M1OASYS | Location: Deerlick Astronomy Village |