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Credit & Copyright: Brian Lula
Explanation:
This
colorful
telescopic view towards the northern constellation
Lyra reveals dim outer regions around M57,
popularly known as the Ring Nebula.
While modern astronomers still
refer
to M57 as a planetary nebula,
at one light-year across M57 is not a planet
but the gaseous shroud of a dying sun-like star.
Roughly the same apparent size as M57, the fainter, often
overlooked
barred spiral galaxy IC1296 is at the lower right and
would have been referred to in the
early 20th century as a
spiral nebula.
By chance the pair are in the same field of view, and while they
appear to have similar sizes they are actually very
far apart.
M57 lies at a distance of a mere 2,000
light-years, well within our own
Milky Way galaxy.
Extragalactic IC1296 is more
like 200,000,000 light-years distant or about 100,000 times farther away.
Since they appear roughly similar in size, spiral nebula IC1296
must also be about 100,000
times larger than planetary nebula M57.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: planetary nebula - spiral galaxy - M 57 - Ring Nebula - IC 1296
Publications with words: planetary nebula - spiral galaxy - M 57 - Ring Nebula - IC 1296
See also: