Photo Agency - Astronomy - Space - Nature

> Dumbell planetary nebula (M27) in Vulpecula

Dumbell planetary nebula (M27) in Vulpecula

author: WIYN/Novapix

reference: a-nep68-53002

Image Size 300 DPI: 31 * 31 cm

This image of the Dumbbell Nebula (M27, NGC6853), a planetary nebula in the constellation of Vulpecula, was taken at the 3.5-meter WIYN telescope. The nebula was formed when an evolved, red giant star ejected its outer envelope near the end of its lifetime. The expanding cloud of gas becomes visible once the hot core of the star, visible near the center, is exposed and the high-energy, ultraviolet light from the core ionizes the cloud. This makes the nebula emit mostly a strong emission-line spectrum. This color image was obtained by combining three separate pictures, each one taken through a narrow filter centered at the emission wavelengths of Hydrogen (H alpha, red, 656 nm), doubly ionized Oxygen (OIII, green, 501 nm), and neutral Oxygen (OI, blue, 630 nm).

Keywords for this photo:

ASTRONOMY - DUMBBELL - DWARF - DYING STAR - EVOLUTION - KITT PEAK - M27 - NEBULA - NGC 6853 - PLANETARY NEBULA - STAR - VULPECULA - WHITE DWARF - WIYN 3.5m -