Found in the
constellation of Lyra – The Harp, is the planetary nebula, M57.
Although called a planetary nebula, it is not caused by a planet, but
a star. This particular one was caused by a red giant star which
released a shell of ionized gas expanding into the interstellar
medium. The Ring Nebula has a magnitude of 8.8 and an angular size of
1.5z1 arcminute, too small to see with binoculars, but visible with a
small telescope of 4 inches.
First discovered
by French astronomer Antoine Darquier de Pellepoix in January of
1779; it was then independently discovered by Charles Messier a month
later. Both Charles Messier and William Herschel believed M57 to be
comprised of multiple faint stars, but were unresolvable in their
small telescopes.
'X' Marks the spot for M57.
My Observation:
With the 25mm at a magnification of 30x this small ring shaped object
looks to be a bright gray color, but very small in size. Easily
overlooked as just another star, but once you focus on it –
especially with averted vision – you can make out that it is a ring
shaped object. Remind me a lot of a Cheerio, or a Donut. Stepping up
the magnification to the 12.5mm giving me a magnification of 60x, M57
doesn't lose any brightness, but gains in size. It's shape, and the
fact that it's not another star in the eyepiece, is much more
visible. Looking like a smoke ring from a cigar smoker, it's just
about perfectly round.
M57 - The Ring Nebula. 5-12-12. Click to Enlarge.
This is 18 images
at 30 seconds a piece, ISO1600 stacked with 15 darks and 20 bias
frames. I could have probably gotten away with doing it at ISO800,
and still maintaining the colors I got. Stacked in Deep Sky Stacker
and post processing in Gimp.
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