The Ring Nebula, M57

Astronomical Photo Album on the Web

To foster interests of the public on astronomy, the Hong Kong Space Museum and the Hong Kong Observatory cooperate to compile an astronomical photo album on the web.  Various kinds of astronomical photos are taken with the iObservatory at Lady MacLehose Holiday Village and other instruments of the Space Museum, and are publicized through the Observatory's website.

Main Page of Astronomical Photo Album on the Web

The Ring Nebula, M57

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The M57 Ring Nebula is a planetary nebula located in the constellation of Lyra, about 2,300 light years away from the Earth. The nebula got its name from its resemblance to a ring. A sun-like star at its final stage of evolution releases a gaseous shell into the space.  These gases emit vivid colourful light when excited by the radiation of the star.