Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Vulpecula (Vul)  ·  Contains:  Dumbbell nebula  ·  M 27  ·  NGC 6853
The Dumbbell Nebula (M27 in Vulpecula), Michael Watson
The Dumbbell Nebula (M27 in Vulpecula)
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Description

This is a so-called "planetary nebula" - the first one discovered, in 1764. It is probably the expanding gas shell remnant of a nova (an exploding red giant star at the end of its life), which occurred between 10,000 and 15,000 years ago. The nebula lies some 1,360 light years from Earth.

The central star is the largest known white dwarf star, with a diameter about 1/20 that of our Sun, but with 50% of the Sun's mass.

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The Dumbbell Nebula (M27 in Vulpecula), Michael Watson