Object:The Dumbbell Nebula (also known as Apple Core Nebula, Messier 27, M 27, or NGC 6853) is a planetary nebula in the constellation Vulpecula, at about 1227 light-years. This object was the first planetary nebula to be discovered; by Charles Messier in 1764. At its brightness of visual magnitude 7.5 and its diameter of about 8 arcminutes, it is easily visible in binoculars, and a popular observing target in amateur telescopes.

Like many nearby planetary nebulae, the Dumbbell contains knots. Its central region is marked by a pattern of dark and bright cusped knots and their associated dark tails (see picture). The knots vary in appearance from symmetric objects with tails to rather irregular tail-less objects. Similarly, to the Helix Nebula and the Eskimo Nebula, the heads of the knots have bright cusps which are local photoionization fronts.

Taken: September 8, 2022

Telescope: Astro-Tech 14” RC with Starizona Apex ED 0.65x reducer

Mount: Paramount ME II unguided

Camera: ZWO ASI2600MC-Pro (cooled to 0C; Gain: 100) Bin 1×1.

Focuser: Moonlite Nitecrawler

Rotator: Moonlite Nitecrawler

Filters used: Optolong L-Pro

Exposures: 43×90 seconds for a total exposure time of 1.075 hours; calibrated with 40 dark frames, 40 flat frames with 40 dark flat frames.

Seeing Conditions: 3/5 average. Bortle 5 region.

Image capture and telescope control: Nighttime Imaging ‘N’ Astronomy with (N.I.N.A.) / TheSkyX Pro with a SkyShed POD MAX observatory.

Processed with PixInsight, Photoshop CC 2022

Astrobin