M 57 (PN)
Planetary Nebula in Lyra
| R.A. | Dec. | Size | Mag | SB | Cnt.St | Type | Distance | Chart |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18h 53m 35.7s | +33° 01′ 29.8″ | 3.8′ | 8.8 | 10.9 | -- | PN | -- | -- |
Source: POSS-2 UK Schmidt Red (STScI) | Field: 15′ × 15′
Background
M57 is the Ring Nebula — a classic small bright planetary nebula 2,300 light-years away in Lyra. The distinctive donut shape (a roughly edge-on torus of glowing gas) makes it one of the most-observed deep-sky objects in the northern sky. Central star is a hot white dwarf ( 120,000 K).
My Observing Notes
25-cm (Meade 10-inch LX200, The Coffee Grinder): Sits nicely between β and γ Lyrae. Immediately evident as a bright ghostly grey donut-shaped disk. Slightly elongated body rising to a brighter outer ring. No central star obvious at this aperture.(Friday, June 2025)
References
Charts
Ultra-wide view (~25° field)
Wide-field view with Telrad rings (4°, 2°, 0.5°)
Finderscope view (9×50 RACI, ~4.4° TFOV)
Eyepiece view — 35 mm Panoptic on 12-inch f/5 (1.6° TFOV)