Post by glactus on Nov 2, 2008 9:15:35 GMT
M 27 The Dumbbell nebula
The Dumbbell Nebula, M 27, is a planetary nebula in the constellation of Vulpecula. Distance from Earth is about 1,360 light years.
This object was the first planetary nebula to be discovered; by Charles Messier in 1764. At its brightest visual magnitude of 7.5 it is easily visible in binoculars, and a great observing target in amateur telescopes.
This planetary nebula appears to be shaped like an prolate spheroid and is viewed from our perspective along the plane of its equator.
In 1992, Moreno-Corral et al. computed that the rate of expansion in the plane of the sky of this nebula was no more than 2″.3 per century. From this, an upper limit to the age of 14,600 yr may be determined.
Like many nearby planetary nebulae, the Dumbbell contains knots. Its central region is marked by a pattern of dark and bright cusped knots together with their associated dark tails.
Credits: This is an ESO image
