Burnham describes M27 as "..most
conspicuous planetary nebula in the entire sky for small instruments...".
M27 (the Dumbbell nebula) is expanding at a rate of 17 miles per second, is
approximately 48,000 years old. M27 has a probable distance of 850 light
years and spans approximately 2.5 light
years.
Images of sufficient exposure length show extended fragmented shells
from previous eruptions of the central star. In addition to the shells
there are two optical jets extending from the axis of the nebula, these jets
were first discovered by Moreno (1959) and are visible in the above (albeit faintly)
.