Astronomy photos from the Dwarf 3 telescope

From the driveway, this is the Dumbbell Nebula, Messier 27. The Dumbbell Nebula (also known as the Apple Core Nebula) is a planetary nebula (nebulosity surrounding a white dwarf) in the constellation Vulpecula, at a distance of about 1360 light-years.

Shot from the driveway, this is Messier 34 an open cluster in Perseus. It was probably discovered by Giovanni Batista Hodierna before 1654 and included by Charles Messier in his catalog of comet-like objects in 1764. Messier described it as, "A cluster of small stars a little below the parallel of γ (Andromedae).