Shapley 1

Shapley 1 (Sp 1 or PLN 329+2.1)^[3] is an annular planetary nebula in the constellation of Norma with a magnitude of +12.6.^[4] As viewed from Earth, it is peculiar in that it seems to be a non-bipolar, torus-shaped planetary nebula. However, it is thought that this is due to the viewpoint of looking directly down on a binary system whose orbit is perpendicular to Earth.^[2]

Shapley 1/Sp 1

Emission nebula
Planetary nebula
Fine Ring Nebula — captured here by the ESO Faint Object Spectrograph and Camera mounted on the New Technology Telescope at the La Silla Observatory in Chile.[1] Credit ESO.
Observation data: J2000 epoch
Right ascension	15h 51m 42.75s
Declination	−51° 31′ 30.5″
Distance	~4900[2] ly
Apparent magnitude (V)	12.6
Apparent dimensions (V)	1.1'
Constellation	Norma
Physical characteristics
Radius	0.8 ly
Notable features	Central star is a white dwarf with a magnitude of 14.
Designations	PLN 329+2.1
See also: Lists of nebulae

Discovered in 1936 by Harlow Shapley,^[3][4] it is approximately 4900 light years from Earth, and is around 8700 years old.^[2] At the center of the nebula is a magnitude 14 white dwarf star. It has an angular diameter of 1.1 arc minutes,^[5] which makes it about one-third (.32) of a light year across.