Dumbell Nebula in Vulpecula. The Dumbbell Nebula (Messier 27), 1,360 light-years away in the constellation of Vulpecula, was discovered in 1764 by Charles Messier. It is a planetary nebula, the remains of stars that once looked a lot like our sun. When sun-like stars die, they puff out their outer gaseous layers. These layers are heated by the hot core of the dead star, called a white dwarf, and shine with infrared and visible-light colours.