NGC 3132 -- The Southern Ring Nebula

NGC 3132, aka the Southern Ring Nebula, aka the Eight-burst Nebula, is in Vela, and estimated to be about 2000 lightyears distant.

The white dwarf star that gave birth to this nebula, and is reponsible for its glow, is NOT the star seen quasi-centrally, but is close to it, though too dim to be seen here.

This is a small object, but some of the extended Ha shell is nicely demonstrated -- also note a faint blue glow around some of the peripheral portions of the nebula -- we feel this is a real feature and not artifact. Other recently completed planetary nebula images, including M57 and M97, show a similar outer blue shell.