PIX4623489: Planetary nebula Dumbbell (M27) in Little Fox - Dumbell planetary nebula (M27) in Vulpecula - The planetary nebula Dumbbell (M27) is located about 1400 years - light from Earth in the constellation Little Fox. A planetary nebula is a gas shell from a small late-life star whose heart collapsed to become a white dwarf and expelled the outer layers of its matter. Image obtained with a 90 cm telescope, through various filters including an H-alpha filter. The Dumbbell Nebula (M27, NGC6853), is a planetary nebula located about 1200 light years from the earth in the constellation of Vulpecula. 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 / Bridgeman Images