The
Dumbbell Nebula (also known as the
Apple Core Nebula,
Messier 27, and
NGC 6853) is a
planetary nebula (nebulosity surrounding a white dwarf) in the
constellationVulpecula, at a distance of about 1360
light-years.=reference
[1] It was the first such nebula to be discovered, by
Charles Messier in 1764. At its brightness of [url=mw-redirect=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visual_magnitude]visual magnitude[/url] 7.5 and diameter of about 8 [url=mw-redirect=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arcminute]arcminutes[/url], it is easily visible in binoculars=reference
[4] and is a popular observing target in
amateur telescopes.
Like many nearby planetary nebulae, the Dumbbell contains knots. Its central region is marked by a pattern of dark and bright cusped knots and their associated dark tails (see picture). The knots vary in appearance from symmetric objects with tails to rather irregular tail-less objects. Similarly to the
Helix Nebula and the
Eskimo Nebula, the heads of the knots have bright cusps which are local
photoionization fronts.=reference
[5](Wikipedia)
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