This is one of the closest examples of a "planetary nebula,"
so-called because to their first discoverers, these round objects
appeared like the disks of planets. In fact, this object is the
result of a sun-like star throwing off its outer layers near the
end of its life. That star, now a white dwarf, is in the middle of
the nebula. There are several faint rings of material farther out from
the main nebula; one of those can be seen below the nebula in this image.
Estimates of the distance to NGC 7293 range between 450 and 650 light years.

Object data:
Camera: Canon 350XT (modified)
Exposure: ISO 800, 5 minutes x 24
Telescope: 10" Schmidt-Newtonian, Baader coma corrector
unguided on Astro Physics 900GTO