Ring Nebula

As most of you can tell from the pictures below and its name, the Ring Nebula has a ring-shaped structure. It is also known as M57, Messier 57, or NGC 6720 ("Messier 57").  It is a planetary nebula, and the outside ring shape is supposedly due to the star at the center of the nebula ("Messier 57").  The Ring Nebula is a part of the constellation, Lyra, and its central star was first observed in 1800 by Fredrich von Hanh ("Messier 57").  Right now, this central star is classified as a white dwarf star and shines at about fifteenth magnitude, but it will begin to cool down and eventually end up as a cold black dwarf star ("Messier 57").  The distance from our own Milky Way has been in question due to miscalculations based on errors in assumptions of its shape, but based on recent calculations, it appears to be around two to four thousand light years away ("Messier 57").  The Ring Nebula has an interesting history that adds to its visual amusement.

"Messier 57." Messier Object 57. N.p., 30 Aug. 2007. Web. 29 Nov. 2015.

Taken by the Harvard MicroObservatory 11/27/15 (Green Filter)

Taken by the Harvard MicroObservatory 11/27/15 (Red Filter)