Ring Nebula (Messier 57) – Hubble Space Telescope Image

The Ring Nebula — Messier 57, or NGC 6720 — occupies the centre of this Hubble Space Telescope view as a brilliant oval of blue and orange against near-black space. Its cool inner region appears softly luminous, while the warmer outer ring is brighter, more irregular and finely textured. The contrast gives the nebula an unusual visual presence: a compact form that seems at once translucent and sharply bounded.

Located approximately 2,500 light-years from Earth in the constellation Lyra, M57 is classified as a planetary nebula within the Milky Way. Here, its familiar ring-like outline is not perfectly uniform. The orange rim swells, narrows and breaks into delicate variations of brightness, surrounding an interior that shifts from pale cyan at its edges to a deeper blue towards the centre.

A closer look

At large scale, the outer ring reveals a more intricate character than its bold silhouette first suggests. Along the upper-right edge, a slender filament emerges from the glow; elsewhere, small changes in tone give the orange material a mottled, almost fibrous appearance. Just inside the rim, orange gradually yields to white, cyan and blue rather than ending at a single hard boundary.

The central region is quieter but not featureless. Darker flecks interrupt its luminous blue surface, while faint wisps soften the transition towards the encircling ring. Subtle dark lanes can also be discerned towards the left and right sides of the surrounding structure. Beyond the nebula, minute points of light punctuate the black field, including several brighter specks near the lower edge. Their restrained presence emphasises how completely the glowing oval commands the composition.

The image’s depth comes largely from these nested layers: darkness, a radiant orange perimeter, a narrow transitional band and the diffuse blue interior. Nothing is quite geometrically regular. That slight asymmetry keeps the form visually alive, particularly around the lower curve, where the nebula’s outline appears to turn gently through space.

Image details and provenance

• Subject: M57, Messier 57, NGC 6720 — the Ring Nebula
• Object type: Milky Way planetary nebula
• Constellation: Lyra
• Distance from Earth: 2,500 light-years
• Telescope: Hubble Space Telescope
• Original release date: 23 May 2013, 16:00
• Image credit: NASA, ESA, and C. Robert O’Dell (Vanderbilt University).

Choosing the right size and finish

Fine art can feel intimate at smaller sizes and more architectural at larger ones. Use the room preview, model image and size guide to judge the scale of the piece in your space.

For exact dimensions, specialist framing or a larger project, ask our workshop for advice.

The model in the listing images is holding the 16x16in (40x40cm) version of this art print.

Where personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, or one considered visual detail. See examples of personalised artwork.

Choose Original for colour that remains faithful to the source artwork, or Aged for a warmer antique character. See examples of our Aged artwork.

Every piece is printed to museum-grade archival standards using fade-resistant pigment inks on acid-free matte paper. Choose an art print, framed art print or canvas using the finish options above.

Framed art prints use crystal-clear optical acrylic for excellent clarity, reduced reflections and safer delivery. They arrive professionally framed and ready to hang.

Selected artworks can be produced at statement sizes up to 3 metres (10ft). Custom sizing and specialist framing are also available; contact our workshop if the exact option you need is not listed.