Messier 27, or M27, is a planetary nebula in the constellation of Vulpecula (I love that name). A planetary nebula is formed when an intermediate-mass star, similar to our sun, sheds its outer layers at the end of its life. This happens after it’s expanded to a red giant. This stellar material is then ionized by the central core left behind, making it glow.

The Dumbbell Nebula is roughly 9,800 years old, and lies about 1,350 light years from us. The nebula itself is roughly 1.5 light years across! Just for fun, I did the math. It means that material is moving around 52,000 mph through space.

Looking at the nebula, it’s easy to see some “knots” toward the core. Those knots are likely caused by the outward-moving stellar material “running into” more dense material, such as gas and dust; not dissimilar to how rocks influence a flowing river.