Contents: Ring Nebula, The Pleiades

The Ring Nebula In Lyra, M57

Planetary nebula

The Ring Nebula in Lyra is an gaseous envelope expanding away from a dying star at about 19km/sec.

Estimated distance away is 2310 light years and 0.5 light years diameter.

mx5 + 300mm f7.8, 4 x 9 sec stacked image.

The Pleiades in Taurus, The Seven Sisters, M45

Open star cluster

An open star cluster found in Taurus. Six or seven of the 500+ stars can be see with the naked eye. Time exposure reveals the nebulosity surrounding the brightest stars which is the remnant of the dust and gas cloud from which they were formed. The cluster is about 410 light years away and 13 light years across.

mx5 + 55mm lens, tripod mount, 10 x 5 sec stacked image.