22
If you were to look at the Ring Nebula from
the side, it would look like the Dumbbell
Nebula (M27). With this object, we’re looking
directly at the pole of the nebula.
Dumbbell Nebula in the Vulpecula (Fox)
constellation (M 27)
M 27 in the Fox constellation (Figure 16)
Right ascension: 19:59.6 (Hours: Minutes)
Declination: -+22:43 (Angle: Minutes)
Distance: 1.250 light years
The Dumbbell Nebula (M 27) in Fox was the
fi rst planetary nebula ever discovered. On
July 12, 1764, Charles Messier discovered
this new and fascinating class of objects. We
see this object almost directly from its equato-
rial plane. If you could see the Dumbbell Ne-
bula from one of the poles, it would probably
reveal the shape of a ring, and we would see
something very similar to what we know from
the Ring Nebula (M 57). In reasonably good
weather, we can see this object well even with
small magnifi cations.
1%
1^
1$
1#
f=20 mm
f=12 mm
f=4 mm
The Moon
Orion Nebula (M 42)
Ring Nebula in Lyra
constellation (M 57)
Dumbbell Nebula in
the Vulpecula (Fox)
constellation (M 27)
