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Ring Nebula
astronomy
Also known as: M57, NGC 6720
Ring Nebula, (catalog numbers NGC 6720 and M57), bright nebula in the constellation Lyra, about 2,300 light-years from the Earth. It was discovered in 1779 by the French astronomer Augustin Darquier. Like other nebulae of its type, called planetary nebulae, it is a sphere of glowing gas thrown off by a central star. Seen from a great distance, such a sphere appears brighter at the edge than at the centre and thus takes on the appearance of a luminous ring. It is a popular object for amateur astronomers.
This article was most recently revised and updated by Erik Gregersen.
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