Billions and Billions.com
BACK
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.

Intes Micro MN56 w/ Harry Smith Barlow SXV-H9C Baader UV-IR Filter G-11 STV w/ eFinder Astroart Photoshop CS Neat Image