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The Dumbbell M27 in Vulpecula the fox
was the first 'Planetary' nebula'discovered. Found by Messier, its name is attributed to John Herschel. A planetary is comprised of a shell of gas, ejected by a central star at the end of its life. In this case, at the core is a a very hot, blue subdwarf which illuminates the beautiful shell of Hydrogen (red) and OIII (Oxygen3-teal). Estimates of M27's distance vary greatly but it is certainly one of the largest of its class, second only to The Helix in Aquarius.