M27 — Dumbbell Nebula
Classic planetary nebula showing teal OIII core and faint Hα halo.
Capture details
- Date: 2025-11-03
- Integration: 60 × 30s
- Gear: Askar 80ED + 0.85× • Canon 550D (Hα)
- Location: Goldach
- Notes: OIII core + Hα halo
Processing
Light deconvolution for core structure; masked colour balance between OIII and Hα.
What is M27 (Dumbbell Nebula)?
M27 is a planetary nebula—the glowing shell of gas ejected by a dying Sun-like star. Located in Vulpecula, it’s about 1,200 light-years away. The teal/blue core and reddish outer shell come from different gases excited by the hot white dwarf.
- Type: Planetary nebula
- Distance: ~1,200 ly
- Why it’s popular: Bright, forgiving target; shows structure even with short integrations