M27(NGC6853) Vul planetary nebula
Difficulty level 2
The Dumbbell Nebula

Date of observation: 2001/09/23 23:00
Observing site: �¬�ÎŒ´
Transparency/seeing/sky darkness: 3/4/3
Instruments: 32cm Dobsonian with RA10 150x
Width of field: 0.4 degrees
This nebula is located north of ƒÁ Sct at the edge of the constellation. It is a very large and bright planetary nebula. It is visible in binoculars.

It is generally fuzzy and details in the inside the nebula are not easily visible. If observed with plenty of time, the surface is seen to be mottled. It also looks like two triangles being in contact at the common apex. The southern part is brighter than the northern part and the base of each triangle is straight and sharply defined. The western corner is bright with a triangular shape nebulosity. This is the brightest part of the nebula. West of this bright area there is a star and there seems to be a faint protrusion toward it. The northern part is fuzzy and the western part is diffuse evenly.
Darker areas are hazy. The western nebulosity is relatively bright and extended to the south. The eastern part is faint and diffuse.
At the contact point of the two triangles a faint central star is seen. This area seems to be rather barren.