Map of the Universe

Dumbbell Nebula

Planetary nebula · Planetary nebula in the constellation Vulpecula

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Dumbbell Nebula
Picture: Credit: T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage) and H. Schweiker (WIYN and NOIRLab/NSF/AURA), CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

About the Dumbbell Nebula

The Dumbbell Nebula is about 1,269 light-years from the Sun, so the light we see from it left about 1,269 years ago.

It is 26,401 light-years from the centre of the Milky Way.

The map lists it as a planetary nebula and shows it among the stars around the Sun, drawn on the plane of the Milky Way.

Key numbers

Distance1,269 light-years (389 pc)
Distance from the Galactic centre26,401 light-years
Galactic coordinatesl = 60.80°, b = -3.70°
Sizeabout 3 light-years across

Where it is

Its place in the universe, from the inside out: Milky Way › Local Group › Virgo Supercluster › Laniakea Supercluster › Observable universe.

Zoom out to see it in context: Local Arm, a view about 12,000 light-years across.

From Wikipedia

The Dumbbell Nebula is a planetary nebula in the constellation Vulpecula, at a distance of about 1360 light-years. It was the first such nebula to be discovered, by Charles Messier in 1764.

Excerpt from the Wikipedia article Dumbbell Nebula, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

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