The Dumbbell Nebula (M27) The Dumbbell Nebula, also known as Messier 27 (M27) or NGC 6853, is a planetary nebula located in the constellation Vulpecula. It was the first planetary nebula to be discovered, by Charles Messier in 1764. The nebula is approximately 1,360 light-years away from Earth and is about 8,000 years old. Its distinctive shape, resembling a dumbbell, is due to the ionized gases expelled from a dying star at the center. The Dumbbell Nebula is visible with binoculars or small telescopes and appears as a round, cloud-like structure with a bright core. Camera: ZWO ASI2600MC Duo APS-C Cooled Color Astronomy Camera from agenaastro Telescope: Celestron 11” EDGE HD Total integration time: 2 hours. #DumbbellNebula #M27 #Messier27 #NGC6853 #PlanetaryNebula #Astronomy #Astrophotography #Space #Cosmos #DeepSky #Stargazing #Vulpecula #Nebula #SpaceExploration