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Credit & Copyright: Subaru 8.3-m Telescope,
NAOJ
Explanation:
What's happened to the Ring Nebula?
The familiar Ring that can be seen with a
small back-yard telescope takes on a new
look when viewed in dim light.
The above recently-released, false-color image taken by the giant
Subaru Telescope
shows details of
giant halos of diffuse gas that are seen to
envelop the entire structure.
The Ring Nebula, also known as
M57,
is an elongated
planetary nebula, a type of nebula that is created
when a Sun-like star evolves to throw off its outer atmosphere
and becomes a
white dwarf.
The Ring Nebula is about 2000 light-years away,
and the main ring
spans about one light-year.
The origin and future evolution of the
Ring Nebula's outer halos is still being investigated.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: planetary nebula - Ring Nebula
Publications with words: planetary nebula - Ring Nebula
See also:
- APOD: 2024 April 28 Á Rings Around the Ring Nebula
- APOD: 2024 February 12 Á HFG1 & Abell 6: Planetary Nebulae
- APOD: 2023 December 24 Á NGC 2440: Cocoon of a New White Dwarf
- APOD: 2023 October 3 Á MyCn 18: The Engraved Hourglass Planetary Nebula
- APOD: 2023 August 14 Á The Ring Nebula from Webb
- NGC 1360: The Robin's Egg Nebula
- APOD: 2023 April 16 Á M2 9: Wings of a Butterfly Nebula