Messier 27 (M 27)

Introduction | Map | Sketch | My Best Own Photos | My Own Observations | References || Appendix My Own Photos

On this page I collect my observations of the planetary nebula M 27 (NGC 6853) in the constellation Vulpecula/Little Fox.

 

Introduction

The planetary nebula M 27 in the constellation Vulpecula/Little Fox is called Dumbbell Nebula because of its shape. According to Stoyan, it is considered as one of the most beautiful nebulae for telescope observers. Visually there was not much to see for me so far, except with the PS 72/432 in France under a darker sky (and in Betz with a bigger telescope). With the Explorer 150PDS I saw more or less a square with round corners; of course, did I not see the colors. The view in the StarTravel 120/600 was nearly quite as good. Photographically I was a bit more successful. In my electronic telescopes eVscope, eVscope 2, Vespera, and Vespera Pro, M 27 is one of the nicest sky objects.

M 27 (NGC 6853)
Size: 8' x 4' (Stoyan)
Distance: 1,200 light years (Stoyan)
Rating: ***** (Stoyan).

 

Map

M 27 (Dumbbell Nebula) in Vulpecula/Little Fox (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

 

Sketch

The sketch by Michael Vlasov (DeepSkyWatch.com) provides a rough impression of what I might have observed in Summer/Autumn 2016: Sketch of M 27 (Dumbbell Nebula) by Michael Vlasov (Copyright © Michael Vlasov 2016)

Note: I only have the author's permission to link to the sketch.

 

My Best Own Photos

Atik Infinity & Explorer 150PDS (December 31, 2017)

         

M 27 (Dumbbell Nebula in Vulpecula), unprocessed

 

Ditto, post-processed

 

Ditto, post-processed (16 bits)

ZWO ASI224

         

M 27 - Sep 2, 2021, PS 72/432, 85frames, 5sec, gain300, processed

 

M 27 - Sep 3, 2021, C5, 60frames, 5sec, gain300, processed

 

M 27 - Sep 4, 2021, TLAPO1027, 96frames, 5sec, gain300, processed

eVscope

         

M 27 - Nov 2, 2020

 

M 27 - Nov 24, 2020

  M 27 - Oct 7, 2021
   

M 27 - Nov 2, 2020, photo on top processed

 

M 27 - Nov 24, 2020, photo on top processed

 

M 27 - Oct 7, 2021, photo on top processed

eVscope 2 (3)

         

M 27 - Aug 22, 2022

 

M 27 - Oct 22, 2022

 

M 27 - Aug 21, 2023, 5 min

      

M 27 - Aug 22, 2022, photo on top processed

 

M 27 - Oct 22, 2022, photo on top processed

 

M 27 - Aug 21, 2023, photo on top processed

   

M 27 - Sep 6, 2023, 5 min

 

M 27 - Oct 10, 2023, 26 min

 

M 27 - Oct 13, 2023, 11 min

   

M 27 - Sep 6, 2023, photo on top processed

 

M 27 - Oct 10, 2023, photo on top processed

 

M 27 - Oct 13, 2023, photo on top processed

     

M 27 - Dec 18, 2023 (7 min)

 

M 27 - Dec 18, 2023, photo left processed

   

Vespera

    

M 27, Jul 29, 2022 - original (29 frames = 290s)

 

M 27, Jul 31, 2022 - original (59 frames = 590s)

 

M 27, Aug 6, 2022 - original (23 frames = 230s)

 

M 27, Aug 12, 2022 - original (45 frames = 450s)

 

M 27, Aug 20, 2022 - original (89 frames = 890s)

 

M 27, Aug 25, 2022 - original (90 frames = 890s)

   

M 27, Oct 22, 2022 - original (180 frames = 1800s)

   

Vespera Pro

    

M 27, Jun 25, 2024 - 2000 (120 frames = 1200s)

 

M 27, Jun 25, 2024 - 1800 (120 frames = 1200s), 1:1 section, processed

 

My Own Observations

Observations Summer to Autumn 2016

Observations September/October 2018

Observations August 2019

Observations September/October 2019

Observations April to November 2020

Observations July to December 2021

Observations January 2022

Observations July to October 2022

Observations August to December 2023

Observations June 2024

 

References

On this Site


Appendix: My Own Photos

Atik Infinity & Heritage 100P (December 7, 2017)

With Barlow Lens (2 x)

         

M 27 (Dumbbell Nebula in Vulpecula), unprocessed

 

Ditto, post-processed

 

Ditto, more "aggressively" post-processed

With Focal Extender (2 x)

         

M 27 (Dumbbell Nebula in Vulpecula), unprocessed

 

Ditto, post-processed

 

Ditto, more "aggressively" post-processed

Atik Infinity & Explorer 150PDS (December 31, 2017)

         

M 27 (Dumbbell Nebula in Vulpecula), unprocessed

 

Ditto, post-processed

 

Ditto, post-processed (16 bits)

   

M 27 (Dumbbell Nebula in Vulpecula), unprocessed

 

Ditto, post-processed

 

Ditto, post-processed (16 bits)

ZWO ASI224

         

M 27 - Sep 2, 2021, PS 72/432, 85frames, 5sec, gain300, processed

 

M 27 - Sep 3, 2021, C5, 60frames, 5sec, gain300

 

M 27 - Sep 3, 2021, C5, 60frames, 5sec, gain300, processed

     

M 27 - Sep 4, 2021, TLAPO1027, 96frames, 5sec, gain300

 

M 27 - Sep 4, 2021, TLAPO1027, 96frames, 5sec, gain300, processed

   

eVscope

           

M 27 - Apr 15, 2020, already too bright

 

M 27 - Apr 15, 2020, already too bright

   
        

M 27 - Apr 15, 2020, photo above processed

 

M 27 - Apr 15, 2020, photo above processed

   
      

M 27 - Jun 11, 2020

 

M 27 - Jun 11, 2020, disturbed

 

M 27 - Jul 9, 2020

      

M 27 - Jun 11, 2020, photo above processed

 

M 27 - Jun 12, 2020, photo above processed

 

M 27 - Jul 9, 2020, photo above processed

   

M 27 - Aug 9, 2020

 

M 27 - Aug 19, 2020

 

M 27 - Aug 20, 2020

   

M 27 - Aug 9, 2020, photo on top processed

 

M 27 - Aug 19, 2020, photo on top processed

 

M 27 - Aug 20, 2020, photo on top processed

   

M 27 - Aug 20, 2020

 

M 27 - Aug 24, 2020

 

M 27 - Aug 24, 2020

   

M 27 - Aug 20, 2020, photo on top processed

 

M 27 - Aug 24, 2020, photo on top processed

 

M 27 - Aug 24, 2020, photo on top processed

   

M 27 - Aug 25, 2020

 

M 27 - Sep 9, 2020

 

M 27 - Sep 9, 2020

   

M 27 - Aug 25, 2020, photo on top processed

 

M 27 - Sep 9, 2020, photo on top processed

  M 27 - Sep 9, 2020, photo on top processed
   

M 27 - Sep 12, 2020

 

M 27 - Sep 12, 2020

 

M 27 - Sep 15, 2020

   

M 27 - Sep 12, 2020, photo on top processed

 

M 27 - Sep 12, 2020, photo on top processed

 

M 27 - Sep 15, 2020, photo on top processed

     

M 27 - Oct 10, 2020

 

M 27 - Oct 10, 2020

   
     

M 27 - Oct 10, 2020, photo on top processed

 

M 27 - Oct 10, 2020, photo on top processed

   
   

M 27 - Oct 19, 2020

 

M 27 - Oct 19, 2020

 

M 27 - Oct 27, 2020

   

M 27 - Oct 19, 2020, photo on top processed

 

M 27 - Oct 19, 2020, photo on top processed

 

M 27 - Ocz 27, 2020, photo on top processed

         
M 27 - Oct 27, 2020, background slider at the left end (brightest background)   M 27 - Oct 27, 2020, background slider between the left end and the middle position   M 27 - Oct 27, 2020, background slider in the middle (like automatic)
   
M 27 - Oct 27, 2020, background slider in the middle (like automatic)   M 27 - Oct 27, 2020, background slider between the middle position and the right end   M 27 - Oct 27, 2020, background slider at the right end (darkest backgound)
     
M 27 - Nov 2, 2020   M 27 - Nov 2, 2020, photo left processed    
   
M 27 - Nov 24, 2020  

M 27 - Nov 24, 2020

 

M 27 - Nov 24, 2020

   
M 27 - Nov 24, 2020, photo on top processed  

M 27 - Nov 24, 2020, photo on top processed

 

M 27 - Nov 24, 2020, photo on top processed

   
M 27 - Jul 18, 2021  

M 27 - Jul 18, 2021

 

M 27 - Jul 29, 2021

   
M 27 - Jul 18, 2021, photo on top processed  

M 27 - Jul 18, 2021, photo on top processed

 

M 27 - Jul 29, 2021, photo on top processed

   

M 27 - Aug 25, 2021, clouds

 

M 27 - Sep 8, 2021

 

M 27 - Oct 7, 2021

   

M 27 - Aug 25, 2021, photo on top processed

 

M 27 - Sep 8, 2021, photo on top processed

 

M 27 - Oct 7, 2021, photo on top processed

   

M 27 - Oct 9, 2021, somewhat fuzzy

 

M 27 - Oct 16, 2021

 

M 27 - Oct 19, 2021

   

M 27 - Oct 9, 2021, photo on top processed

 

M 27 - Oct 16, 2021, photo on top processed

 

M 27 - Oct 19, 2021, photo on top processed

   

M 27 - Dec 20, 2021

 

M 27 - Dec 20, 2021

 

M 27 - Dec 21, 2021

   

M 27 - Dec 20, 2021, photo on top processed

 

M 27 - Dec 20, 2021, photo on top processed

 

M 27 - Dec 21, 2021, photo on top processed

eVscope 2

         

M 27 - Dec 5, 2021

 

M 27 - Dec 10, 2021

 

M 27 - Dec 10, 2021

   

M 27 - Dec 5, 2021, photo on top processed

 

M 27 - Dec 10, 2021, photo on top processed

 

M 27 - Dec 10, 2021, photo on top processed

         

M 27 - Dec 20, 2021

 

M 27 - Dec 20, 2021

 

M 27 - Dec 20, 2021

   

M 27 - Dec 20, 2021, photo on top processed

 

M 27 -Dec 20, 2021, photo on top processed

 

M 27 - Dec 20, 2021, photo on top processed

   

M 27 - Dec 21, 2021

 

M 27 - Dec 21, 2021

 

M 27 - Jan 6, 2022

   

M 27 - Dec 21, 2021, photo on top processed

 

M 27 - Dec 21, 2021, photo on top processed

 

M 27 - Jan 6, 2022, photo on top processed

eVscope 2 (3)

         

M 27 - Aug 22, 2022

 

M 27 - Oct 22, 2022

 

M 27 - Aug 21, 2023, 5 min

      

M 27 - Aug 22, 2022, photo on top processed

 

M 27 - Oct 22, 2022, photo on top processed

 

M 27 - Aug 21, 2023, photo on top processed

   

M 27 - Sep 6, 2023, 5 min

 

M 27 - Oct 10, 2023, 26 min

 

M 27 - Oct 13, 2023, 11 min

   

M 27 - Sep 6, 2023, photo on top processed

 

M 27 - Oct 10, 2023, photo on top processed

 

M 27 - Oct 13, 2023, photo on top processed

     

M 27 - Dec 18, 2023 (7 min)

 

M 27 - Dec 18, 2023, photo left processed

   

Vespera

    

M 27, Jul 29, 2022 - original (29 frames = 290s)

 

M 27, Jul 31, 2022 - original (59 frames = 590s)

 

M 27, Aug 6, 2022 - original (23 frames = 230s)

 

M 27, Aug 12, 2022 - original (45 frames = 450s)

 

M 27, Aug 15, 2022 - original (20 frames = 200s)

 

M 27, Aug 20, 2022 - original (90 frames = 900s)

 

M 27, Aug 25, 2022 - original (90 frames = 890s)

 

M 27, Aug 28, 2022 - original (90 frames = 890s)

 

M 27, Aug 28, 2022 - original (90 frames = 890s)

 

M 27, Sep 30, 2022 - original (33 frames = 330s)

   

M 27, Oct 22, 2022 - original (180 frames = 1800s)

   

Vespera Pro

    

M 27, Jun 25, 2024 - 2000 (120 frames = 1200s)

 

M 27, Jun 25, 2024 - 1800 (120 frames = 1200s), 1:1 section, processed