Dumbell Nebula (M27) in Vulpecula

This nebula is generally considered the most conspicuous planetary nebula in the sky. The dimensions of this nebula are 8' x 5' and it has a distance of around 900 light years with a diameter of about 2.5 light years. The age of this planetary is about 48,000 years and its central star is an 85,000 deg K blue dwark with a spectrum of an ancient nova.

Images taken with TEC-140 Telescope mounted on Losmandy G11 mount. Camera used was a Canon EOS20D used at prime focus.

Fifteen 3 minute exposures dark, flat, and bias compensated; aligned and stacked; background removed and Digitaly Developed in ImagesPlus 2.75 beta 2c.