Skip Content

The Dumbbell Nebula, M27

Astronomical Photo Album on the Web

To foster interests of the public on astronomy, the Hong Kong Space Museum and the Hong Kong Observatory cooperate to compile an astronomical photo album on the web.  Various kinds of astronomical photos are taken with the iObservatory at Lady MacLehose Holiday Village and other instruments of the Space Museum, and are publicized through the Observatory's website.

Main Page of Astronomical Photo Album on the Web

The Dumbbell Nebula, M27

 

The Dumbbell Nebula, M27

 Link to Hong Kong Space Museum

 

The Dumbbell Nebula, also known as M27, is a planetary nebula located in the constellation of Vulpecula, and is about 1,200 light years away from the Earth. The nebula got its name from its resemblance to a dumbbell. When a sun-like star evolves to its final stage, it releases its gaseous shell into the space. This gas emits vivid colours when excited by the radiation of the star.