Supernova
Dumbbell Nebula (M27)
The first planetary nebula discovered (1764)
Discovered by Messier in 1764, the first of its kind. At 380 pc it is one of the nearest and brightest planetary nebulae; it has been expanding for ~10,000 years.
| Type | Supernova |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Vulpecula |
| Distance | 380 pc (1,240 light-years) |
| Apparent magnitude | 7,5 |
| Age | ~10,000 years |
| Right ascension (J2000) | 19h 59m 36.0s |
| Declination (J2000) | +22° 43′ 12″ |
In the sky
Visible from the whole Northern Hemisphere and south to latitude 67° S. North of latitude 67° N it never sets. It stands highest at midnight in July, the best time to observe it.
Through a telescope from Earth
Light's journey
The light you see tonight set out around the year 787. At the speed of Voyager 1, the fastest craft leaving the Solar System (16.9 km per second), the trip would take 22 million years.