Ring Nebula – NIRCam

The captivating allure of the Ring Nebula was captured by the Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) on the James Webb Space Telescope.

This celestial wonder, known as M57 or NGC 6720, comes from a star that is shedding its outer layers as it nears the end of its life cycle. Located some 2,500 light-years from Earth, this planetary nebula features complex formations that bear witness to the final phases of a star in decline. (Credits: ESA/Webb, NASA, CSA, M. Barlow (University College London), N. Cox (ACRI-ST), R. Wesson (Cardiff University))