Infrared Ring Nebula
Credit: J. Hora (Harvard-Smithsonian CfA) (SSC/Caltech), JPL-Caltech, NASA
Explanation: The classic appearance of the popular
Ring Nebula (aka M57) is
understood to be due to perspective - our view from planet Earth looks down the
center of a roughly barrel-shaped cloud of gas. But graceful looping structures
are seen to extend even beyond the Ring Nebula's familiar central regions in
this
false-color
infrared image from the
Spitzer Space
Telescope. Of course in this well-studied example of a
planetary nebula, the
glowing material
does not come from planets.
Instead, the gaseous shroud represents outer layers expelled from a dying,
sun-like star. By chance, spiral galaxy IC 1296 is also visible in the upper
right of this Spitzer view toward the
constellation
Lyra. The central
ring of the Ring Nebula is about one light-year across and 2,000 light-years
away. However, galaxy IC 1296
much bigger and hence
farther away ... about 200 million light-years distant.
Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry
Bonnell (USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and
Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service
of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
