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 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), but photographically I was a bit more successful. 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.

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 - Aug 19, 2020	M 27 - Aug 20, 2020	M 27 - Aug 24. 2020

M 27 - Aug 19, 2020, photo on top processed	M 27 - Aug 20, 2020, photo on top processed	M 27 - Aug 24, 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 - Nov 2, 2020	M 27 - Nov 24, 2020	M 27 - Oct 7, 2021

M 27 - Nov 2, 2020, photo left processed	M 27 - Nov 24, 2020, photo on top processed	M 27 - Oct 7, 2021, photo on top processed

My Own Observations

Observations Summer to Autumn 2016

Regrettably, I was just able to detect a glowing something, but nothing like a dumbbell. Location, observation date, and telescopes used are unknown/forgotten.

Observations September/October 2018

September 17, 2018 (Sumène, France: PS 72/432 , AZ Pronto Mount): M 27 (Dumbbell Nebula) seen quite well at different magnifications.
October 5, 2018 (Betz, France: unknown telescope): M 27 seen large and beautifully.

Observations August 2019

Aug 26, 2019 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Explorer 150PDS on Star Discovery GoTo Mount, StarSense): M 27 (Dumbbell Nebula) observed at different magnifications, seen well.
Aug 30, 2019 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Explorer 150PDS on Star Discovery GoTo Mount, SynScan WLAN): M 27 beautifully seen with 10 mm and 7 mm eyepieces; more or less a square with round corners, the colors, of course , not seen...

Observations September/October 2019

October 3, 2019 (Sumène, France: StarTravel 120/600 , AZ Pronto Mount): M 27 (Dumbbell Nebula; 24, 10, 7, 4 mm) nice, large, maybe a little square-like...
Oct 31, 2019 (Erkerode: Skymax-127 on AZ Pronto Mount): M 27 (32, 24, 16 mm) appears as a large, more round (perhaps a little elongated...) glow, seen well - located above Sagitta

Observations April to November 2020

April 15, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 27 photographed in the morning, but the sky was already too bright.
June 11, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 27 photographed in the new rectangular format without overlay
June 12, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 27 photographed (n.o., r.f.), disturbed
July 9, 2020 (Ulm: eVscope): M 27 photographed (n.o., r.f.)
August 9, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 27 photographed (n.o., r.f.)
August 19, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 27 photographed (n.o., r.f.)
August 20, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 27 photographed (n.o., r.f.)
August 24, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 27 photographed (n.o., r.f.)
August 25, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 27 photographed (n.o., r.f.)
September 4, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 27 photographed (n.o., r.f.), not usable...
September 12, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 27 photographed (n.o., r.f.)
September 15, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 27 photographed (n.o., r.f.)
October 10, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 27 photographed (n.o., r.f.)
October 19, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 27 photographed (n.o., r.f.)
October 27, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 27 photographed, different background settings tested
October 19, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 27 photographed (n.o., r.f.)
November 2, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 27 photographed (n.o., r.f.)
November 24, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 27 photographed (n.o., r.f.)

Observations July to October 2021

July 18, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 27photographed (n.o., r.f.), new image size and processing, poor collimation despite new collimation
July 29, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 27 photographed (n.o., r.f.), new image size and processing, poor collimation
August 11, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: C5 on AZ-GTi, C8 on Star Discovery): M 27 observed; roundish, somewhat structured nebula spot
August 13, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: C5 on AZ Pronto): M 27 observed; found by chance while passing the Milky Way; roundish, somewhat structured nebula spot; observed at different magnifications (32, 24, 16 mm)
August 14, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: C8 on Star Discovery): M 27 observed; very "fuzzy"
August 25, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 27 photographed (n.o., r.f.), new image size and processing; clouds...
September 2, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: PS72 on AZ-GTi mount, ASI224): M 27 photographed
September 3, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: C5 on AZ-GTi mount, ASI224): M 27 photographed
September 4, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: TLAPO1027 on Star Discovery mount, ASI224 ): M 27 photographed
September 8, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 27 photographed (n.o., r.f.), new image size and processing
October 7, 2021 (Erkerode: eVscope): M 27 photographed (n.o., r.f.), new image size and processing
October 9, 2021 (Erkerode: eVscope): M 27 photographed (n.o., r.f.), new image size and processing, somewhat fuzzy
October 16, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 27 photographed (n.o., r.f.), new image size and processing; more than half moon
October 19, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 27 photographed (n.o., r.f.), new image size and processing; nearly full moon

References

Messier Catalogue - Messier 27: messier.seds.org/m/m027.html

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