There’s something magical about stepping outside on a clear night, tilting your head back, and just looking up. For amateur astronomers like myself, the sky feels like an endless invitation to explore—and some nights, it feels like the stars and deep-sky objects are just waiting for you to find them. One of my favorite celestial treasures to observe is Messier 57, better known as The Ring Nebula.

Whether you’re a seasoned backyard astronomer or just starting your stargazing journey, Messier 57 is a fantastic target. Let’s dive into what it is, why it’s so special, and how you can find it yourself!

What Is Messier 57?

First off, some basics: Messier 57 (or M57) is a planetary nebula located in the constellation Lyra. Despite the name, planetary nebulas have nothing to do with planets. The term comes from early astronomers like William Herschel who thought they looked a bit like distant, fuzzy planets through their primitive telescopes.

In reality, M57 is the glowing remains of a dying star. After burning through its fuel, the star shed its outer layers into space, creating an eerie, beautiful ring of ionized gas. The core that remains will eventually cool down and become a white dwarf—a dense, slowly fading ember of its former self.

Distance: About 2,300 light-years from Earth.
Size: About 1 light-year across.
Magnitude: Around 8.8 (you’ll need at least binoculars or a telescope to see it).

Why Is It Called the “Ring” Nebula?

Look at a picture of M57, and you’ll instantly get it—the nebula has a distinctive doughnut or ring-like shape. Through larger amateur telescopes, you can actually make out that ghostly circle. It’s not perfectly round, though; there’s a slightly stretched, oval appearance, and inside the ring, the gas is thinner and darker, giving it that “hole” in the middle.

Fun fact: The “ring” we see is just the bright part. In reality, M57 is more like a cylinder or jellyfish shape, and we’re looking right down the barrel!

Finding Messier 57: A Beginner’s Guide

Now for the fun part—tracking it down yourself!

Step 1: Find the Constellation Lyra
Lyra is a small but mighty constellation and pretty easy to find during the summer months (especially in the Northern Hemisphere). Look for Vega, one of the brightest stars in the night sky. Vega forms the cornerstone of the “Summer Triangle,” a giant asterism made up of Vega, Deneb, and Altair.

Vega is bright and bluish-white. Once you find it, look for a tiny parallelogram shape just nearby—this is the body of Lyra.

Step 2: Look Between Beta and Gamma Lyrae
Messier 57 is located almost exactly halfway between two stars: Beta Lyrae (Sheliak) and Gamma Lyrae (Sulafat). These are the two brighter stars forming the bottom part of the Lyra parallelogram.

With a small telescope (even something like a 70mm refractor), slowly sweep between Beta and Gamma Lyrae. If you’re patient and have decent sky conditions (low light pollution helps!), you’ll catch sight of a tiny, slightly fuzzy, slightly oval “star” that doesn’t quite look right. That’s M57!

Tip:
If your telescope has a low magnification, M57 might appear almost star-like. Bump up the magnification a bit, and you’ll notice the fuzzy donut shape.

Observing Tips for Messier 57

  • Use Moderate to High Magnification:
    After you spot it, crank up the magnification. Around 100x–200x magnification shows the ring structure well on a 6-inch or larger telescope. Larger scopes (10 inches or more) even reveal subtle color hints (pale blue or green).

  • Dark Skies Help Immensely:
    The Ring Nebula isn’t super faint, but the darker your sky, the easier it is to spot and the more details you’ll see. Try to get away from city lights if you can.

  • Let Your Eyes Adjust:
    Your eyes need about 20–30 minutes to fully adjust to the dark. No phones, no flashlights (unless they’re red-filtered). Once your vision is adapted, faint objects like M57 become easier to pick out.

  • Filters Can Help:
    If you have an OIII filter or a UHC (Ultra High Contrast) filter, slap it on! These filters boost the contrast of nebulae by cutting out background light pollution.

  • Sketching is Fun:
    Bring a simple notebook. Even a quick sketch helps you notice subtle features you might overlook otherwise. Plus, it’s a fun way to document your observing journey.

What to Expect

First-timers sometimes expect deep-sky objects to look like NASA images, all color-saturated and vividly detailed. In reality, through a backyard telescope, M57 is more subtle but still breathtaking.

At lower powers, you’ll see a small, slightly oval glow. With more magnification, the donut shape appears. Some people describe it as looking like a tiny smoke ring hanging in the sky. If your conditions are excellent, you might even spot the tiny central white dwarf star (this is a bit tricky, even for larger scopes!).

And remember—this light left M57 about 2,300 years ago. Think about that for a moment: you’re seeing a ghost of a star’s final moments, captured across millennia. Pretty awe-inspiring, right?

Final Thoughts

Messier 57 is a perfect example of what makes amateur astronomy so wonderful. It’s not just about what you see—it’s about what you feel. That connection to the universe, the realization of how vast and beautiful everything is, and the simple joy of discovery.

Next time you’re out on a summer night, find Lyra, point your telescope between Sheliak and Sulafat, and take a few moments to visit the ghostly Ring Nebula. It’s waiting for you, just quietly spinning among the stars.