. # 10
The Dumb-bell nebulae, M27.  If you use your imagination, it appears to
look like a hand barbell.  It can also be an hourglass.  See the small,
white point in the center?  This is the star that the gases making up
the dumbbell shape came from.  It's one of the hottest stars in our
Galaxy.  It's very old, and near the end of its life.  It's "shedding"
its gases slowly, getting ready to settle down into retirement. Taken in
9/93, it's about twice as far away as M45.


#10     from IMG0012.pcd, taken 09/10/93, f/6.3, ASA 100, 7min