Catalog: Messier 27 / NGC 6853
Constellation: Vulpecula
Telescope: 11-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain CPC
Camera: Canon Digital Rebel EOS SL1
Exposure: 30 seconds (I think)
Also known as the Hourglass Nebula.
Like the Ring Nebula, the Dumbbell is a planetary nebula, the remains of a star like our sun whose core ran out of nuclear fuel and collapsed under its own gravity. The nebula we see is the star’s atmosphere, which has drifted gently out into space.
The Dumbbell has quickly become one of my favorite objects!
risingstargazer.com 