M57

Astral Imaging at Dogwood Ridge Observatory

Latitude: 37°48'51.0" N"
Longitude:78°23'41.0"W
Scottsville, Virginia 24590




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M57
The Ring Nebula

Image Information

Commonly called The Ring Nebula, M57 also cataloged as NGC6720, is one of my favorites probably because it was might first visual and imaging target. It is an apparent magnitude of 9.0 and is also a planetary nebula. It's apparent size is 2.5 arc minutes. It is located in the constellation Lyra. The Ring was discovered by Antoine Darquier de Pellepoix in 1779. Recent research has confirmed that it is most probably a ring or torus of bight light-emitting material surrounding the central star. It is also thought that from our viewpoint, we are actually looking down a cylinder like tunnel of gas ejected by a star at the end of it's nuclear-burning life. Deep observations show an extended halo of gases extending to over 3.5 arc minutes which are suspected remainders of the star's earlier stellar winds. The halo was discovered by J. C. Duncan in 1935. M57 IS SUSPECTED OF BEING 2.3 (kly) distant.

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This image is compiled from 27 - 20 minutes sub-exposures for the luminance taken at 1x1 bin at -20°C. The RGB data consists of 8 - 20 minute sub-exposures at 2x2 bin at -20°C. Total imaging time is 9 hours of luminance and 8 hours for RGB. All images acquired using MaxImDl/CCD v4.53. Camera focused via FocusMax and guiding using the AO7 and internal guide chip in the ST8XE. High Pass sharpening method used for nebula only in PS CS2. Color balanced using the G2V star method.

Equipment Used:

OGS 10" RC @ f/9
AP900GTO Mount
SBIG ST8XE CCD Camera
SBIG CFW8
SBIG AO7
Optec Pyxis Camera Rotator
Don Goldman's CRGB Filters
RoboFocus Secondary Focuser Equipped

Imaging Conditions:

Seeing: Good to Excellent over the 4 night period
Transparency: Good to Very Good
Wind: Calm
Temperatures: 42-56° F over the 4 night period

Last Modified :01/23/09 12:40 AM