Astronomers have spotted a mysterious cloud in the shape of a bar in the Ring Nebula. Also called Messier 57, the nebula is the glowing remains of what was once a sun-like star and is located about 2,600 light-years from Earth in the constellation Lyra. Researchers said it is possible the cloud of iron atoms in the shape of a bar is the remnants of a rocky planet which was vaporised when the star threw off its outer layers. It has been speculated that Earth could face the same fate when the sun