The Dumbbell Nebula Project
(Click on Picture for larger view)
Added July 22, 2021...
The Dumbbell Nebula ... also known as Messier 27 and the Apple Core Nebula. July, 2021
Capturing the Dumbbell Nebula with 3 different telescopes from 3 different photographers.
This project involved the collaboration of Joe Navara in SE Colorado, Glenn Clouder just east of London, England, and myself from Savannah, GA. Our goal was the capture the Dumbbell nebula and try to bring out the explosive details of the expanding gasses of a star that blew up nearly 10,000 years ago using our telescopes from the 3 different locations. Images were from RGB capture, and Oxygen, and Hydrogen-Alpha filters resulting in a combined total integration time of 29 hours.
Watch our videos as to how we captured this amazing image.
Pat Prokop's YouTube Channel HEAVENLY BACKYARD ASTRONOMY
Watch Pat's Video
Joe Navara's YouTube Channel: JOE'S ASTROPHOTO)
Watch Joe's Video
Glenn Clouder's YouTube Channel ASTROBLOKE
Watch Glenn's Video
This planetary nebula is found in the constellation of Vulpecula and 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. M27 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. The final exposure time for this image was 29 hours
... Additional Images from Earlier Sessions:
 Added May 16, 2020... |
 Added July 12, 2021... |
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
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