Vulpecula Constellation Guide — Stars, the Fox, and How to Find the Dumbbell Nebula
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A star-filled summer night sky — the backdrop for locating the Vulpecula constellation

Constellation Guide · Summer Sky

Vulpecula Constellation Guide — Stars, the Fox, and How to Find the Dumbbell Nebula

Vulpecula is a small, faint constellation nestled inside the Summer Triangle, best known for containing two of the most rewarding deep-sky objects in the summer sky: the Dumbbell Nebula (M27) and Brocchi's Cluster (Collinder 399, popularly called the Coathanger). This guide covers everything you need to find and observe Vulpecula.

Brightest starAnser (mag 4.4)
Size rank55th of 88 constellations
Best seasonJuly – September
Notable objectM27 Dumbbell Nebula
By Elena Reyes Published: Updated: Reviewed & approved by Juhi Sahni, Senior Editor Editorial Standards

How to Find Vulpecula in the Night Sky

Vulpecula is conveniently located inside the Summer Triangle — the prominent asterism formed by the bright stars Vega (Lyra), Altair (Aquila), and Deneb (Cygnus). The Fox sits in the middle of this triangle, roughly one-third of the way from Altair to Deneb. Despite being surrounded by bright landmark stars, Vulpecula itself is faint — its brightest star, Anser (Alpha Vulpeculae), shines at only magnitude 4.4.

The easiest way to confirm you have found Vulpecula is to locate the Coathanger asterism (Brocchi's Cluster), a distinctive sideways clothes-hanger shape of about ten stars visible in binoculars. The Coathanger sits near the centre of the Summer Triangle and is the constellation's most recognisable feature. Once you have identified the Coathanger, the Dumbbell Nebula (M27) lies about 3 degrees south of it. From mid-northern latitudes, Vulpecula is best visible from July through September, when the Summer Triangle is high overhead during evening hours.

Key Stars of Vulpecula

StarDesignationMagnitudeDistanceNotes
AnserAlpha Vulpeculae4.4296 lyRed giant M-type star. "The goose."
1 Vulpeculae—4.8510 lyYellow-white giant near the Coathanger.
23 Vulpeculae—5.2260 lyBlue-white star, wide double in binoculars.

Vulpecula is one of the few constellations whose brightest star is fainter than magnitude 4 — a testament to its faint, unassuming nature. The star Anser has a curious history: the constellation was originally called Vulpecula cum Ansere (the Fox with the Goose), with the star Anser representing the goose the fox is chasing. Over time, the goose was dropped from the constellation's official boundaries, but the star name Anser (Latin for "goose") survived. This makes Vulpecula one of the few constellations whose alpha star's name references a mythological figure no longer part of the constellation.

The Mythology of Vulpecula

Vulpecula is a modern constellation, introduced by the Polish astronomer Johannes Hevelius in 1690 in his star catalogue Firmamentum Sobiescianum. Unlike the ancient constellations with their rich mythological backstories, Vulpecula was created by Hevelius to fill a gap in the sky between Lyra, Cygnus, and Aquila — the region of the Summer Triangle. He originally named it Vulpecula cum Ansere (the Little Fox with the Goose), depicting a fox carrying a goose in its mouth.

Over the centuries, the goose was gradually removed from the constellation's official boundaries (the International Astronomical Union's 1930 constellation boundaries only include the fox), but the name Anser survives for the brightest star. Despite being a relatively young constellation, Vulpecula sits in one of the richest regions of the summer Milky Way and has become a favourite among deep-sky observers for its two famous non-stellar objects.

Deep-Sky Objects in Vulpecula

M27 — The Dumbbell Nebula

M27 is one of the finest planetary nebulae in the sky and the first planetary nebula ever discovered (by Charles Messier in 1764). At magnitude 7.4, the Dumbbell Nebula is visible in binoculars under dark skies and spectacular in any telescope. A 4-inch scope at 50× reveals the distinctive hourglass or apple-core shape that gives it the "dumbbell" nickname. An 8-inch Dobsonian at 80× with an O-III filter shows intricate structure: a bright central bar flanked by two fainter lobes, with subtle extensions on each side. M27 is approximately 1,360 light-years away and is the ionised shell of a dying star whose central white dwarf (magnitude 13.8) is visible in 10-inch and larger telescopes. The nebula spans about 8 arcminutes — one-quarter the diameter of the full Moon — making it one of the largest and brightest planetary nebulae for amateur telescopes. For a dedicated guide, see our Dumbbell Nebula observing guide.

Brocchi's Cluster — The Coathanger

Brocchi's Cluster (Collinder 399) is a striking asterism of approximately ten stars that form a perfect sideways coat-hanger shape when viewed through binoculars. For decades, astronomers debated whether the Coathanger was a true open cluster or a chance alignment of unrelated stars. Recent data from the Gaia satellite confirmed that most of its stars are indeed a chance alignment at different distances, not a physically bound cluster. Nonetheless, it is one of the most recognisable asterisms in the sky and a joy to observe in 10×50 binoculars. The "hook" of the coat hanger consists of six stars in a straight line, while the "hanger bar" is formed by four stars curving away from the centre. Brocchi's Cluster spans about 1.5 degrees — three times the diameter of the full Moon — making it too large for most telescope fields and best suited for binoculars.

Observing Vulpecula with Binoculars

Vulpecula is one of the best constellations in the sky for binocular observing. A pair of 10×50 binoculars reveals the Coathanger asterism immediately — it is one of the most distinctive and satisfying binocular targets in the summer sky. The Dumbbell Nebula is visible as a small, bright patch just south of the Coathanger, though binoculars will not resolve its hourglass shape. The rich Milky Way star fields of this region are glorious in binoculars, with dense star clusters and dark nebulae scattered across the field. For binocular recommendations, see our best astronomy binoculars guide.



Observing Vulpecula with a Telescope

M27 is the premier telescopic target in Vulpecula and one of the must-see objects of the summer sky. Start at 40–50× to frame the nebula, where its distinctive hourglass shape is immediately apparent. Increase magnification to 80–100× to study the structure: the bright central bar, the fainter lobes extending on each side, and the subtle greenish hue that many observers report (the O-III emission lines of doubly ionised oxygen). An O-III or UHC filter dramatically enhances contrast and reveals the full extent of the outer lobes. For telescope recommendations, see our best Dobsonian telescopes guide.

For owners of larger telescopes (10-inch and above), the central white dwarf star (magnitude 13.8) is a challenging target. Use 200×+ and a nebula filter to reduce the nebula's glare. The star is visible as a faint, steady point of light at the exact centre of the hourglass — a rewarding observation that connects you to the dying star that created this beautiful nebula thousands of years ago.



Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Vulpecula in the night sky?

Vulpecula sits inside the Summer Triangle formed by Vega, Altair, and Deneb. It is roughly one-third of the way from Altair to Deneb — look for the Coathanger asterism to confirm.

What is the brightest star in Vulpecula?

Anser (Alpha Vulpeculae) at magnitude 4.4 — a red giant 296 light-years away. Its name means "the goose" in Latin.

When is Vulpecula best visible?

From July through September, when the Summer Triangle is high overhead during evening hours. Best around midnight in August.

What is the Coathanger in Vulpecula?

Brocchi's Cluster (Collinder 399) is a distinctive asterism of about ten stars forming a sideways coat-hanger shape. Best viewed in binoculars — spans 1.5 degrees.

Can you see the Dumbbell Nebula with binoculars?

Yes — M27 is visible in 10×50 binoculars under dark skies as a small, bright patch. A telescope at 50× reveals its distinctive hourglass shape.

What deep-sky objects are in Vulpecula?

M27 (Dumbbell Nebula, mag 7.4, planetary nebula) and Brocchi's Cluster (Coathanger, Collinder 399) are the two main attractions.