The Dumbbell Nebula ... Messier 27
(Click on Picture for larger view)
Added May 16, 20202...
The Dumbbell Nebula ... also known as Messier 27 and the Apple Core Nebula. May 16, 2020
This planetary nebula found in the constellation of Vulpecula is about 1,360 light-years away. It formed as the star ended its life in a massive explosion about 9,800 years ago. The remnant of the star is now a very hot white dwarf which can be seen as a small blue star in the center. The radiation of this dwarf continues to illuminate the emission cloud of the gas particles from the explosion. The Dumbbell nebula can be easily seen in binoculars and small telescopes in a dark sky, just above the small constellation of Sagitta. M 27 is best viewed during the late spring and summer months and it is located within the 'Summer Trianagle' of the 3 bright stars of Vega, Deneb, and Altair. On this date, it is medium high in the ENE shortly after midnight. The final exposure time for this image was 2hr 50mn
That 'Techy' Stuf
Telescope: 11" Celestron Edge HD at f/10
Mount: Celestron CGX
Mount setting and alignment via Celestron PWI software
Rig to Indoor Computer Connection: USB 2 196 feet Extender via cat 6 cable
System Alignment: Celestron StarSense
Camera: Altair Hypercam 294c Pro TEC
Camera sensor temp: 0°C
Binning: 1x1
Filter: Altair Quadband
34 Sub-Frames at 300sec ea (2hr 50mn total exposure)
Calibration Frames: 40 Flats
Guiding: Orion Digital StarShoot Mono camera & 60mm Altair Scope
Focus Controller:
Celestron Auto Focuser
Guiding Software: PHD2 V2.6.8
Capture Software: SharpCap Pro
Stacked in Deep Sky Stacker
Post-processing in PixInsight & Photoshop CC
Light Pollution: Bortle zone 4.5 (Barely can see the Milky Way)
Sky Condition: 9 (0-10 with 10 the clearest possible)
Lunar Interference: None
Temperature: 72°F (22°C)
Date May 16, 2020 (actually May 17 since it was after midnight)
Location: My Backyard, Savannah, GA
Previous Imaging Session
Added July 12, 2018...
The Dumbbell Nebula ... also known as Messier 27
This planetary Nebula found in the constellation of Vulpecula is about 1,360 light-years away. The Dumbbell nebula can be easily seen in binoculars in a dark sky, just above the small constellation of Sagitta. M 27 is best viewed during the summer months and it is locaatged within the 'Summer Trianagle' of the 3 bright stars of Vega, Deneb, and Altair.
The Techy Stuff ... For those who want to know ...
Telescope: Celestron 11" Edge HD at f/7
0.7x Reducer lens
Mount: Celestron CGX
Return to Pat Prokop's Heavenly Backyard Astronomy Page