Nebula · M271,200 light-years away
Dumbbell Nebula
The Dumbbell Nebula (M27) was the very first planetary nebula ever discovered, spotted by Charles Messier in 1764, and remains one of the brightest and most beloved targets for backyard stargazers. Its glowing, double-lobed "apple core" shape is the cast-off outer atmosphere of a dying Sun-like star, offering a preview of what our own Sun will become billions of years from now.
