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M27 - The Dumbbell Nebula


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The Dumbbell Nebula gets it's name for good reason. This planetary nebula, like M57, is the result of a star exploding off its outer shell. The light from the remaining core of the star illuminites this large nebula of green and blue gases. Bright red streaks are visible near the edges. The explosion happened 4 or 5 thousand years ago and the gases of M27 are expanding quickly and it will eventually fade away the course of the next several millenia. M27 is relatively close to us at approximately 1200 light years.

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