The Ring Nebula in Lyra is one of the most unusual objects
in the sky, looking much like a ghostly smoke ring. This is
perhaps the best known example of the "planetary" variety 
which exhibit a rounded form. M57 is easily visible in even 
the smaller telescopes, but its 15.4 magnitude central star 
would require 12 inch instruments or larger. 
The nebula is said to be expanding at a rate of about 
12 miles per second, and about 20,000 years old.