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Constellation Lyra:
The Ring Nebula (M 57)
f=20 mm
f=6 mm
Right Ascension: 18h 53m (hours : minutes) /
Declination: +33° 02' (Degrees : minutes)
Distance: 2,412 light years from Earth
The famous Ring Nebula (M57) in the Lyra constella-
tion is often viewed as the prototype of a planetary
nebula. It is one of the magnificent features of the
Northern Hemisphere's summer sky. Recent studies
have shown that it is probably comprised of a ring
(torus) of brightly shining material that surrounds the
central star (only visible with larger telescopes), and not a gas structure in the form of a sphere or an
ellipse. If you were to look at the Ring Nebula from the side, it would look like the Dumbbell Nebula (M
27). When viewed from Earth, we are looking directly at the pole of the nebula.
Constellation Vulpecula (Little Fox):
The Dumbbell Nebula (M 27)
f=20 mm
f=6 mm
Right Ascension: 19h 59m (hours : minutes) /
Declination: +22° 43' (Degrees : minutes)
Distance: 1,360 light years from Earth
The Dumbbell Nebula (M 27) was the first planetary
nebula ever discovered. On 12 July 1764, Charles
Messier discovered this new and fascinating class
of objects. We see this object almost directly from
its equatorial plane. If we could see the Dumbbell
Nebula from one of its poles, we would probably see
the shape of a ring, something very similar to what we
know as the Ring Nebula (M 57). In reasonably good weather, we can see this object well, even with low
magnification.
