Dumbbell Nebula

The Dumbbell Nebula, designated M27, was the very first planetary nebula ever discovered when Charles Messier found it in 1764. Planetary nebulas have nothing to do with planets; they are glowing shells of gas ejected by dying stars.

It is located in the northern sky within the constellation Vulpecula, which translates to "Little Fox." Amateur astronomers often find it by star-hopping from the bright summer star Albireo in the constellation Cygnus.

Yes, the central white dwarf star that created the nebula is visible, but you generally need a fairly large amateur telescope to spot it. This extremely hot stellar remnant is what illuminates the surrounding expanding cloud of gas.

Its iconic dumbbell or apple-core shape is the result of the central star shedding its outer layers of gas into space over thousands of years. The expanding gas shell appears brighter at the edges from our vantage point, creating its unique profile.