by Craig and Tammy Temple
This object was the first planetary nebula discovered. The Dumbbell Nebula was seen by Charles Messier in 1764. Located in the constellation Vulpecula ("The Fox"), M27 is fairly bright at magnitude 7.5.
Telescope: 10” Orion Newtonian at f/4.7
Accessories: Baader MPCC
Mount: Orion Atlas EQ-G controlled by EQMOD
Guiding: Orion StarShoot AutoGuider on William Optics ZS66
Camera: Self-modified Canon Digital Rebel XT
Filters: Astronomik CLS-CCD EOS Clip
Exposure: 41 x 180sec @ ISO 800 (2hr. 3min.)
Acquisition: ImagesPlus 3.75 Camera Control
Processing: ImagesPlus 3.75 – Calibrated, registered, Sigma-clipped averaged, DDP
Post-processing: Adobe Photoshop CS4; Gradient XTerminator; Noise Ninja
Date(s): July 20, 2009
Temperature(s): 72ºF