M27 Dumbbell

M27 Dumbbell Nebula

Planetary nebula (NGC6853) within the constellation of Vulpecula. We are viewing this planetary nebula from its equatorial plane which runs approximately vertically in this image. If we viewed it from the pole it would probably look similar to M57, the Ring Nebula.

The central star is a very hot white dwarf, with a surface temperature of 85000K. It is quite bright (for a planetary nebula) with an apparent magnitude of 13.5. The nebula is about 275 times brighter (magnitude 7.4) than the central white dwarf. This might seem surprising at first since the nebula glows by absorbing ultra violet light from the white dwarf and then re emitting it - mostly in the Hydrogen alpha and Oxygen [III] emission lines. The reason of course is that the star emits most of its radiation in the ultra violet due to it's high surface temperature.