Dumbbell Nebula

Dumbbell Nebula
ESO image showing extended structure and central star Credit: ESO
Observation data (Epoch J2000)
Right ascension	19h 59m 36.340s[1]
Declination	+22° 43′ 16.09″[1]
Distance	1,360+160 −212 ly (417+49 −65 pc)[2][3]
Apparent magnitude (V)	7.5[1]
Apparent dimensions (V)	8′.0 × 5′.6[4]
Constellation	Vulpecula
Physical characteristics
Radius	1.44+0.21 −0.16 ly[a]
Absolute magnitude (V)	-0.6+0.4 −0.3[d]
Notable features	Central star radius is largest known for a white dwarf.
Other designations	NGC 6853,[1] M 27,[1] Diabolo Nebula,[1] Dumb-Bell Nebula,[1]
See also: Planetary nebula, Lists of nebulae

The Dumbbell Nebula (also known as Messier 27, M 27, or NGC 6853) is a planetary nebula (PN) in the constellation Vulpecula, at a distance of about 1,360 light years.

This object was the first planetary nebula to be discovered; by Charles Messier in 1764. At its brightness of visual magnitude 7.5 and its diameter of about 8 arcminutes, it is easily visible in binoculars, and a popular observing target in amateur telescopes.

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  M27 in Vulpecula constellation.

• 

  Messier 27.

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  Image from the Spitzer Space Telescope.

M27. This picture was processed and combined using IRAF and MaxIm DL by Mohamad Abbas.

Structure

This PN appears to be shaped like an prolate spheroid and is viewed from our perspective along the plane of its equator. In 1992, Moreno-Corral et al. computed that the rate of expansion in the plane of the sky of this PN was no more than 2″.3 per century. From this, an upper limit to the age of 14,600 yr may be determined. In 1970, Bohuski, Smith, and Weedman found an expansion velocity of 31 km/s. Given its semi-minor axis radius of 1.01 ly, this implies that the kinematic age of the nebula is some 9,800 years.^[4][5]

Knots

HST closeup of knots in M 27
Credit: C.R. O'Dell (Vanderbilt University)

Like many nearby planetary nebulae, the Dumbbell contains knots. Its central region is marked by a pattern of dark and bright cusped knots and their associated dark tails (see picture). The knots vary in appearance from symmetric objects with tails to rather irregular tail-less objects. Similarly to the Helix Nebula and the Eskimo Nebula, the heads of the knots have bright cusps which are local photoionization fronts.^[5]

Central star

The central star, a white dwarf, is estimated to have a radius which is 0.055 ± 0.02 R_☉ which gives it a size larger than any other known white dwarf.^[2] The central star mass was estimated in 1999 by Napiwotzki to be 0.56 ± 0.01 M_☉.^[2]

See also

• Messier object
• List of Messier objects
• List of planetary nebulae
• New General Catalogue

Notes

1. ^{^} Radius = distance × sin(angular size / 2) = 1,240+180
   −140^[3] * sin(8′.0 / 2) = 1.44+0.21
   −0.16 ly
2. ^{^} Semi minor axis = distance × sin(minor axis size / 2) = 1,240+180
   −140^[3] * sin(5′.6 / 2) = 1.01+0.15
   −0.11 ly
3. ^{^} Kinematic age = semi-minor axis / expansion rate = 1.01+0.15
   −0.11^[b] ly / 31 km/s = 9.56+1.42
   −1.04×10¹² km / 31^[4] km/s = 3.08+0.46
   −0.34×10¹¹ s = 9,800+1,500
   −1,100 yr
4. ^{^} 7.5 apparent magnitude - 5 * (log₁₀(420+50
   −70 pc distance) - 1) = -0.6+0.4
   −0.3 absolute magnitude

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} "SIMBAD Astronomical Database". Results for M 27. http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/Simbad. Retrieved 2007-01-03. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} Benedict, G. Fritz; McArthur, B. E.; Fredrick, L. W.; Harrison, T. E.; Skrutskie, M. F.; Slesnick, C. L.; Rhee, J.; Patterson, R. J.; Nelan, E.; Jefferys, W. H.; van Altena, W.; Montemayor, T.; Shelus, P. J.; Franz, O. G.; Wasserman, L. H.; Hemenway, P. D.; Duncombe, R. L.; Story, D.; Whipple, A. L.; Bradley, A. J. (2003). "Astrometry with The Hubble Space Telescope: A Parallax of the Central Star of the Planetary Nebula NGC 6853". Astronomical Journal 126 (5): 2549–2556. arXiv:astro-ph/0307449. Bibcode 2003AJ....126.2549B. doi:10.1086/378603. 
3. ^ ^{a b c} Harris, Hugh C.; Dahn, Conard C.; Canzian, Blaise; Guetter, Harry H.; Leggett, S. K.; Levine, Stephen E.; Luginbuhl, Christian B.; Monet, Alice K. B.; Monet, David G.; Pier, Jeffrey R.; Stone, Ronald C.; Tilleman, Trudy; Vrba, Frederick J.; Walker, Richard L. (2007). "Trigonometric Parallaxes of Central Stars of Planetary Nebulae". Astronomical Journal 133 (2): 631–638. arXiv:astro-ph/0611543. Bibcode 2007AJ....133..631H. doi:10.1086/510348. 
4. ^ ^{a b c} O'Dell, C. R.; Balick, B.; Hajian, A. R.; Henney, W. J.; Burkert, A. (2002). "Knots in Nearby Planetary Nebulae". Astronomical Journal 123 (6): 3329–3347. Bibcode 2002AJ....123.3329O. doi:10.1086/340726. 
5. ^ ^{a b} O'dell, C. R.; Balick, B.; Hajian, A. R.; Henney, W. J.; Burkert, A.; Balick; Hajian; Henney; Burkert (2003). "Knots in Planetary Nebulae". Revista Mexicana de Astronomía y Astrofísica, Serie de Conferencias 15: 29–33. Bibcode 2003RMxAC..15...29O. 

External links

• M27 on astro-pics.com
• The Dumbbell Nebula on WikiSky: DSS2, SDSS, GALEX, IRAS, Hydrogen α, X-Ray, Astrophoto, Sky Map, Articles and images
• M27

Coordinates: 19^h 59^m 36.340^s, +22° 43′ 16.09″