The Ring Nebula, M57, is a glowing ring of gas that was thrown off by a dying star thousands of years ago. When viewed through a telescope M57 looks like a tiny white smoke ring. Similar colors were recorded by the Hubble Space Telescope.

Composite of 23 4-minute exposures through an Astro-Physics 155mm refractor at f14 using a Canon 40D at ISO 800 from 2008-09-01 22:54 to 2008-09-02 00:05 EDT. Field of view is 9.1'x13.65' centered at 18h53m55s, 33°02'34" with north up. Photographed from northern New Jersey. ©2008