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Astronomy: Galaxy Messier 27 the Dumbbell nebula
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Messier 27 is known to be an excellent example of a gaseous emission nebula, created when a sun-like star runs out of nuclear fuel in its core. The nebula forms as the star's outer layers are expelled into space, with a visible glow generated by atoms excited by the dying star's intense but invisible ultraviolet light. This color composite view was recorded through narrow band filters sensitive to emission from hydrogen atoms (shown in red) and oxygen atoms (shown in blue/green). Known by the popular name the Dumbbell nebula, the beautiful symmetric interstellar gas cloud lies at a distance of 1.200 light-years in the constellation Vulpecula. Related subjects>> Messier catalog of 110 deep sky objects>> Charles Messier >> Milky Way Galaxy |
 The emission nebula M27, also called the Dumbbell nebula, in 2006 < JPG image 1306 X 1040 pixels > |
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