Planetary nebula
The Ring Nebula
Also M57 · NGC 6720
A glowing ring of gas cast off by a dying Sun-like star, with a hot white dwarf at its centre.
Measured
- Distance
- about 2,570 light-years (published estimates 2,480–2,660)
- Size
- about 1 light-years across (approximate)
- Constellation
- Lyra
- Position (J2000)
- RA 18h 53m 35s, Dec +33.03°
How far, from the Sun
About 2,570 light-years. To cross it:
- Light2,570 years
- Voyager 1's speed45.7 million years
- Driving at 100 km/h27.7 billion years
Voyager 1 at the speed it moved outward over the year to 2026-10-25 (JPL Horizons). Driving: nonstop, never refuelling.
Facts
- Charles Messier found it on 31 January 1779; Antoine Darquier, long given the credit, saw it the following month.
- The ring is roughly one light year across.
- The Sun is expected to shed a nebula like this in about 5 billion years.
Where this comes from
- Gaia DR3 parallax of the central star, 1.2696 ± 0.0438 mas (Gaia Collaboration 2023, A&A 674, A1)
Every catalogue Ouranos draws is credited on the credits page.