Telescope:

8" f5 Newtonian reflector

Camera:

 ST-8XME, self-guided, binned 1x1, temp -10c & -15c, camera control MaxIm DL 4.56

Image:

Lumicon Red filter, 790 minutes (79 x 10 minute subs), 10/10/11/12/13/2011; seeing 2.4-4.5 FWHM per CCDStack

Processing:

CCDStack 2.24.4110.20701, Photoshop CS 5.1

Location:

 Rolling Roof Observatory, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 (+34d 13m 29s -118h 52m 20s)

Notes:

Shot M 27 with a nearly full moon rising in the East ... see my early C11 shot from 07/23/2005.

From the NGC / IC Project:

Contemporary Visual Observation(s) for NGC 6853

NGC 6853 = M27 = PN G060.8-03.6 = PK 60-3.1= Dumbbell Nebula
19 59 36.3 +22 43 16
V = 7.1;  Size 480"x340"

18" (8/23/03): breathtaking view at 215x; with the fainter but larger outer 
lobes increasing the dimensions to nearly 7.5'x6' and the ends of the major axis 
seem to open up and bulge out.  With careful viewing, ~10 superimposed stars can 
be counted including the easy mag 13.8 central star.

17.5" (6/15/91): very bright, very large, 7'x6', bright dumbbell lobes are 
oriented SSW-NNE.  The SSW lobe is brighter with a bright outer rim.  Large 
fainter sweeping side lobes fill in the dumbbell and reverse the major axis to 
WNW-ESE. The planetary has an irregular surface brightness with a darker center.  
At high power 5 or 6 stars are superimposed including the easy mag 13.8 central 
star.  Overall, this is the most impressive planetary.

8": central star visible at 200x, fainter side lobes prominent.

- by Steve Gottlieb