Stacked (5X90s, 22X120s LF, 10X180s DF) in DSS and further processed in GIMP.

Messier 27 is known as the Dumbbell Nebula or Apple Core Nebula. It is a spectacular planetary nebula in the constellation of Vulpecula. Large and bright, M27 is one of the finest examples of a planetary nebula in the night sky.

M27's distance and age are not well known with estimates of its age varying from 3,000 to 48,000 years, and its distance from 800 to 3,500 light-years. Current best informed guesses put M27 at a distance of 1,200 to 1,300 light-years with an age of 10,000 years.

The central star that illuminates M27 shines at magnitude 13.5 and is an extremely hot blue subdwarf. Its radius is the largest known for a white dwarf.

M27 was the first planetary nebula discovered. It was discovered by Charles Messier on July 12, 1764 and added as the 27th object in his catalog.