M27

The Dumbbell Nebula is the brightest planetary nebula in the night sky, and was also the first planetary to be discovered. It is a feast for the eyes. In binoculars, it is easy to find as a bright fuzzy patch. Through a telescope, the nebula takes on its famous hourglass or dumbbell appearance. In large instruments, M27 begins to show a trace of colour. The central star is faint and hard to see. The Dumbbell Nebula contains multiple gas shells moving away from the central star at different speeds. An oxygen shell is moving outwards at 15 km/s, while a faster nitrogen shell is expanding at the rate of 30 km/s.