The Ring Nebula (M57), located about 2,300 light-years away in the Lyra constellation, formed from the outer layers of a dying star ejected into space.

In 1915, early telescopes revealed a faint, almost ghostly ring. Modern images, however, show intricate details and brilliant colors, revealing a complex structure with elements like hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen.

Although the nebula appears flat, its true three-dimensional shape is more like a doughnut, with a shell of ionized gas creating its glowing core. ✨