My Astrophotography – Messier 27

Messier 27 (The Dumbbell Nebula / The Apple Core Nebula)

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  • Messier 27 is a planetary nebula (nebulosity surrounding a white dwarf) in the constellation Vulpecula, at a distance of 1360 light-years.
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  • M27 spans roughly 3 light-years across and looks like an hourglass, an apple core, or a dumbbell through a telescope.
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  • With a visual magnitude of 7.4, it is easily seen using binoculars or small amateur telescopes, especially during summer and autumn months.
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  • M27, famously known as the Dumbbell Nebula, is a giant, glowing cloud of gas in outer space created by a dying star – a glowing shell of gas cast off by a dying star, leaving behind a white dwarf.
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  • Object Name
    Messier 27

  • Object Type
    Planetary Nebula

  • Constellation
    Vulpecula

  • Magnitude
    +7.4

  • Distance
    1,360 light-years

  • Age
    20,000 years old

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Equipment

Telescope:

Mount:

Accessory:

Sky-Watcher Esprint 80ED Triplet

Sky-Watcher AZ-EQ6 GT

ZWO ASIair Plus / PixInsight

Camera:

Guiding:

Filter:

ZWO ASI585MC Pro cooling

ZWO ASI1200MM

2″ Optolong eXtreme

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Bortle Scale: Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire (Bortle 6)

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Integration

  • Date:
    Saturday 22nd August 2026
  • Moonlit:
    Waxing gibbous – 6 days old
    Magnitude: -12.3
    Moonlit: 74%
  • Total:
    180’s x 15 subs = 45 minutes

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Constellation :- Vulpecula (The Fox)

Object :-

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Object :-

Other name :-

Type :

Magnitude :

Distance :-

Constellation :-

Right Ascension :-

Declination :-

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Messier 27 (M27) / NGC 6853

Dumbbell / Apple Core / NGC 6853

Planetary Nebula

+7.4

1,360 light years / 3 light years

Vul (Vulpecula / The Fox)

19h 59m 36s

+22° 43′ 17″

Enlarge on click the map.

(Click the map above for a large view.)

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More Information

Abbreviation:  Vul (Vulpecula)
English Name:  The Fox
Genitive: Vulpeculae
Hemisphere: Northern Hemisphere
Location: Between the constellations of Cygnus and Sagitta.
Visible between latitudes:  +90 and -55 degrees
Best season: Summer
Seen in three seasons: Spring, Summer, and Autumn
Best seen in:  August (map)
Seen between: March and November
Right Ascension (RA): 20 hour
Declination (DEC): +25 degrees
Area (square degrees):  268 (55th)

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Did you know?
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  • It was the very first planetary nebula ever discovered in human history, by Charles Messier in 1764.

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