Large planetary nebula in Vulpecula. Shot on gas hypered Fuji HG 400 Plus using 8 inch Schmidt Cassegrain at F/10. Exposure is 45 minutes guided with ST-4 autoguider. Color enhanced in Adobe Photoshop.

The Dumbell nebula (M27), at a magnitude of about 8 is probably the most conspicuous planetary nebula visible to amateurs with small telescopes. Planetary nebulae are now known to be the ejecta of dying stars with the parent star remaining as a blue dwarf or at latter stages becoming a white dwarf.

The estimated distance of M27 probably lies in the neighborhood of about 900 light years.