M57
Notes
[ZWO ASI2600MC Pro]
CameraSerialNumber=2B35920208010900
FrameType=Light
Debayer Preview=Off
Pan=1024
Tilt=0
Output Format=FITS files (*.fits)
Binning=1
Capture Area=4176x4176
Colour Space=RAW16
Exposure/Gain Shift=0
Hardware Binning=Off
High Speed Mode=Off
Turbo USB=100(Auto)
Flip=None
Frame Rate Limit=Maximum
Gain=100
Exposure=180,000s
Apply Time Offset (ms)=0
Timestamp Frames=Off
White Bal (B)=50
White Bal (R)=50
Brightness=50
Window Heater Power=Off
Cooler Power=63
Temperature=-4,6
Target Temperature=-5
Cooler=On
Auto Exp Max Gain=100
Auto Exp Max Exp MS=10000
Auto Exp Target Brightness=50
Mono Bin=Off
CA Reduction/Synthetic Blue=Off
Mask over exposed pixels=Off
Flip (after dark/flat)=None
Trail Width=3
Minimum Trail Length=100
Trail Detection Sensitivity=9
Remove Satellite Trails=Off
Background Subtraction=Off
Planet/Disk Stabilization=Off
Banding Threshold=10
Banding Suppression=0
Apply Flat=None
Dark Scaling (Experimental)=Off
Hot Pixel Sensitivity=5
Subtract Dark=None
DisplayStretchEnable=1
NegativeDisplay=0
Display Black Point=0
Display MidTone Point=0,059699462890625
Display White Point=1
Notes=
ZWO Focuser (2)=25045
Focuser Temperature=26,760000228881836
EQMOD ASCOM HEQ5/6=RA=18:52:56,6,Dec=+33:11:52 (J2000)
TimeStamp=2026-08-16T23:43:35.4526318Z
SharpCapVersion=4.1.14310.0
LastPlateSolveData=Plate solve result was RA=18:53:12,6,Dec=+33:06:59 with mount at RA=18:53:12,5,Dec=+33:06:59, FOV 0,693x0,693 degrees, up is 189,92 degrees East of North
Object Information
M57, the Ring Nebula—also catalogued as NGC 6720—is one of the most iconic planetary nebulae in the night sky. Located in the constellation of Lyra, around 2,000 light-years from Earth, it appears as a delicate glowing ring suspended in space.
This remarkable object represents the final stage in the life of a Sun-like star. After exhausting its fuel, the star expelled its outer layers; today, this gas glows as it is ionised by ultraviolet radiation from the hot stellar remnant at its centre.
Although it looks circular from Earth, its true structure is more complex, resembling a barrel or hollow cylinder of gas seen almost face-on. With an apparent magnitude of about 8.8 and a small angular size, M57 is a compact yet exceptionally rewarding target for summer observing and deep-sky astrophotography.