M57     The Ring Nebula in Lyra (NGC 6720)

        Object type:             Planetary Nebula

        Distance from Earth:      4000 light years / 1200 parsecs

        Distance across Nebula:   10 Astronomical Units

        The Ring Nebula is a planetary nebula resembling a torus or ring.  
        M57 is a fine object visible in small telescopes, but a large scope 
        is needed to glimpse its 13th magnitude central star which is a 
        white dwarf.  The age of the nebula (and thus the death of the 
        central star) is estimated at 5500 years.
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