M27: Not A Comet

Explanation: While searching the skies above 18th century France for comets, astronomer Charles Messier diligently recorded this object as number 27 on his list of things which are definitely not comets . So what is it? Well, 20th century astronomers would classify it as a Planetary Nebula ... but it's not a planet either, even though it may appear round and planet-like in a small telescope. Messier 27 (M27) is now known to be an excellent example of a gaseous emission nebula created as a sun-like star runs out of nuclear fuel in its core. The nebula forms as the star's outer layers are expelled into space, with a visible glow generated by atoms excited by the dying star's intense but invisible ultraviolet light . Known by the popular name of the “Dumbbell Nebula” , the beautifully symmetric interstellar gas cloud is about 1,200 light-years away in the constellation Vulpecula . This gorgeous synthetic color picture of M27 was produced during testing of the European Southern Observatory's new Very Large Telescope .