Messier 27 — Planetary Nebula in Vulpecula

The Dumbbell Nebula is a large, bright planetary nebula in the constellation Vulpecula, about 1,360 light-years from Earth. It was the first planetary nebula ever discovered. The nebula is shaped like a prolate spheroid (a stretched sphere) and appears hourglass or dumbbell-shaped from our perspective. It spans about 2.5 light-years across and is expanding at roughly 31 km/s. The central star is one of the largest known white dwarfs, with an estimated surface temperature of 85,000 K.

Located about 3 degrees north of the arrow-tip of Sagitta. Easily found in binoculars as a distinct fuzzy patch. In a 4-inch telescope at 50-80x, the characteristic dumbbell or apple-core shape is clearly visible. Larger apertures reveal the fainter lobes extending the shape into a more complete oval. An OIII or UHC filter dramatically enhances the view and reveals more nebular structure. The central star is visible in 8-inch or larger telescopes. Best observed from July through October. One of the most rewarding planetary nebulae for beginners.

Discovered by Charles Messier on July 12, 1764 — the first planetary nebula ever recorded in history. Messier described it as 'a nebula without a star, of an oval shape.' William Herschel later coined the misleading term 'planetary nebula' in the 1780s. The nebula's age is estimated at 9,800 years based on its expansion rate.