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Credit & Copyright: Daniel López,
IAC
Explanation:
These two nebulae are cataloged as M27 (left) and M76,
popularly known as
The Dumbbell and the
Little Dumbbell.
Not intended to indicate substandard mental prowess,
their popular names refer to their similar,
dumbbell or hourglass shapes.
Both are planetary nebulae, gaseous shrouds cast off by
dying sunlike
stars, and are similar in physical size, at a light-year or
so across.
In each panel, the images were made at the same scale, so the
apparent size difference is mostly because one is closer.
Distance estimates suggest 1,200 light-years for the Dumbbell
compared to 3,000 light-years or more for the Little Dumbell.
These deep, narrow-band, false-color
images show some remarkably
complex structures
in M27
and M76,
highlighting emission from hydrogen,
nitrogen, and oxygen atoms within the cosmic clouds.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: M 27 - planetary nebula - dumbbell nebula
Publications with words: M 27 - planetary nebula - dumbbell nebula
See also:
- Jones Emberson 1
- APOD: 2024 February 12 Á HFG1 & Abell 6: Planetary Nebulae
- APOD: 2023 December 24 Á NGC 2440: Cocoon of a New White Dwarf
- APOD: 2023 October 3 Á MyCn 18: The Engraved Hourglass Planetary Nebula
- NGC 1360: The Robin's Egg Nebula
- APOD: 2023 May 30 Á M27: The Dumbbell Nebula
- APOD: 2023 April 16 Á M2 9: Wings of a Butterfly Nebula