Object Name:

Messier 57 • M57 • The Ring Nebula • NGC 6720

Position (J2000):

R.A. 18h 53m 35s
Dec. 33° 01' 43"

Constellation:

Lyra

Total Visual Magnitude:

9.7 (Sky Catalogue 2000); Central star: 15.8 Vmag

Distance:

0.7 kpc = 2300 light-years

Scale of Image:

The image is 2 arcminutes (roughly 1.3 light-years) on the veritcal side.

Instrument:

WFPC2

Exposure Date:

October 16, 1998

Total Exposure Time:

1 hour

Filters:

Red: F658N ([N II]), Green: F501N ([O III]), Blue: F469N (He II)

Principal Astronomers:

H. Bond, C. Christian, J. English, L. Frattare, F. Hamilton, A. Kinney, Z. Levay, K. Noll (Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA))

Image Credit:

NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)

Release Date:

January 6, 1999

Orientation/Scale:

North is approximately 30° CW from up; east is to the left