What Is the Mysterious 'Ring Nebula' Spotted 2,600 Light-Years From Earth?

Last Updated:January 19, 2026, 22:16 IST

The Ring Nebula, also known as Messier 57, is a glowing shell of gas and dust created when a dying star shed its outer layers.

This image obtained from NASA on July 8, 2022, shows the Southern Ring Nebula which is visible in the southern hemisphere.

The Ring Nebula is a bright and well-known object in the Milky Way galaxy, located about 2,600 light-years from Earth. First discovered in 1779 by French astronomer Charles Messier, it has been observed by scientists and amateur astronomers for centuries.

Despite this long history, new research shows that the nebula still holds unanswered mysteries.

The Ring Nebula, also known as Messier 57, is a glowing shell of gas and dust created when a dying star shed its outer layers. The star, once about twice the mass of the Sun, ran out of fuel, expanded into a red giant, and then collapsed into a dense white dwarf about the size of Earth. The material it expelled now forms the nebula.

Using a new instrument called WEAVE on the William Herschel Telescope in Spain’s Canary Islands, researchers have made a surprising discovery. They found a long bar-shaped cloud of iron atoms stretching around 3.7 trillion miles across the nebula. This iron feature is unusual because no other elements detected in the nebula appear in the same shape.

Scientists say one possible explanation is that the iron came from a rocky planet that was destroyed when the star expelled its outer layers. The amount of iron is thought to be similar to the mass of Earth’s molten iron core. However, researchers stress that this idea is still speculation and has not been proven.

Astronomer Roger Wesson of Cardiff University, who led the study, said it was exciting to find something new in such a familiar object. He noted that the Ring Nebula is often studied and is even visible through small telescopes and binoculars, though it cannot be seen with the naked eye.

“It’s a classic object for professional and amateur astronomers alike to observe," Wesson said. “Although it’s too faint to see with the naked eye, it’s quite easy to spot with binoculars. In a small telescope, you can see the ring-like appearance.

The nebula appears as a ring from Earth, but scientists believe it is actually more like a cylinder viewed end-on. It is made mostly of hydrogen and helium, with small amounts of heavier elements.

The Ring Nebula is thought to have formed about 4,000 years ago, which is very recent in cosmic terms. Around 3,000 similar nebulae are known in our galaxy. Studying them helps astronomers understand how stars release elements into space, which later form new stars and planets.

(With inputs from Reuters)

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