Ring Nebula – MIRI

This image was captured using the James Webb Space Telescope's MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument), which reveals the complex features of the nebula's outer ring, highlighting distinct concentric elements.

The nebula contains around 20,000 dense globules abundant in molecular hydrogen. In contrast, the inner segment features exceptionally high-temperature gases.

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, M. Barlow (University College London), N. Cox (ACRI-ST), R. Wesson (Cardiff University))