Nebulae
Dumbell Nebula
The Dumbbell Nebula (Messier 27), a planetary nebula in Vulpecula 1,360 light-years away, photographed by Pete Lawrence.
Target details
The Dumbbell Nebula (Messier 27, NGC 6853, sometimes called the Apple Core Nebula) is a planetary nebula in Vulpecula, about 1,360 light-years away. At magnitude 7.5 and about 8 arcminutes across, it's easy to find in binoculars and a popular target for amateur telescopes. It's shaped like a stretched sphere and we see it side-on, along its equator. It's growing very slowly – no more than 2.3 arcseconds per century across the sky – which puts an upper limit of about 14,600 years on its age.
Capture details
Data captured 24 September, 2017.
23x 10 minute exposures at ISO400.
Equipment details
Skywatcher Quattro 200 CF
NEQ6 Pro
Canon 40d (IR Filter removed)
Skywatcher ST-80
QHY5L-II
Processing details
This image was processed in Pixinsight & Lightroom.
Calibration and Stacking in Pixinsight.
Dynamic Crop - To remove black edges & integration artifacts.
Dynamic Background Extraction - To remove gradients.
Canon Banding Reduction script - To remove horizontal lines.
Photometric Colour Calibration - To colour calibrate the image.
Deconvolution - To bring out some fine detail.
Multiscale Linear Transform - Noise reduction.
Histrogram Transformation - To stretch the image and bring out the data.
Curves Transformation - To increase contrast.
Local Histogram Equialisation - To sharpen and increase detail, using Star Mask.
Multiscale Linear Transform - To sharpen and increase detail, using Star Mask.
Local Histogram Equialisation - Increase detail, using Star Mask.
Curves Transformation - To increase saturation, using Star Mask.
Curves Transformation - To improve contrast, using Star Mask.
Curves Transformation - To improve contrast, using Starless Mask.
Export as JPEG and import into Lightroom.
Clip Blacks (-25)
Export final JPEG for upload.
Quick facts
- What is Dumbell Nebula?
- The Dumbbell Nebula (Messier 27, NGC 6853, sometimes called the Apple Core Nebula) is a planetary nebula in Vulpecula, about 1,360 light-years away. At magnitude 7.5 and about 8 arcminutes across, it's easy to find in binoculars and a popular target for amateur telescopes.
- Where is it in the sky?
- In the constellation Vulpecula.
- What are its catalogue names?
- M27, NGC 6853
- When was this photo taken?
- 24 September 2017
- What equipment was used?
- Skywatcher Quattro 200 CF, NEQ6 Pro, Canon 40d (IR Filter removed), Skywatcher ST-80, QHY5L-II
- Where was it taken from?
- Lisburn, Northern Ireland.