M27 - The Dumbbell Nebula - Animation
Tue Jun 06 2023
Here’s an animation comparing the difference between a raw 2 minute exposure and a stacked and processed image containing 30 minutes of total exposure time just for fun.
About this object
- Type
- Planetary Nebula
- Constellation
- Vulpecula (the Fox)
- Distance
- ~1,360 light-years
- Apparent magnitude
- 7.4
- Apparent size
- 6.7′
- Also known as
- Apple Core Nebula
- Catalogue designations
- M 27, NGC 6853
The Dumbbell Nebula (M27) was the first planetary nebula ever discovered, spotted by Charles Messier in 1764. It marks the death of a Sun-like star that has cast off its outer layers of gas, now glowing as they are lit by the exposed, ultra-hot stellar core at the centre. It is one of the brightest planetary nebulae in the sky and a favourite summer target.
Equipment
- Telescope / Lens: Celestron C8
- Camera: ZWO ASI1600MM Pro
- Mount: Celestron CGEM II
- Filters: Antlia 3nm Narrowband H-alpha 31 mm
- Guiding scope: SVBony SV106 60mm Guide Scope
- Guiding camera: ZWO ASI224MC
- Accessories: Celestron 0.63X SCT Reducer (94175), ZWO EFW 8 x 1.25″ / 31mm
- Software: Pleiades Astrophoto PixInsight
Astrophotography by David Joyce, AstroDavido.