Description
M76 is a bipolar planetary nebula in Perseus, the cast-off envelope of a dying Sun-like star. We see a dense, edge-on ring/torus as the bright central “bar,” with two fainter lobes expanding from its ends—hence the “little dumbbell” look. A very hot white dwarf in the center bathes the gas in ultraviolet light, making it glow in characteristic lines: teal-green [O III], deep H-alpha, and knotty [N II] features along shock fronts. The bright bar spans only a few arcminutes, but a much fainter outer halo extends well beyond it—the fossil record of earlier mass-loss episodes during the star’s AGB phase. Distance estimates vary, placing M76 roughly 2,500–3,400 light-years away.
Key facts
- Type: Bipolar planetary nebula (PN)
- Constellation: Perseus
- Designations: M76, NGC 650/651; a.k.a. Little Dumbbell / Barbell / Cork Nebula
- Distance: ~2,500–3,400 ly (measurements differ by method)
- Apparent size (bright bar): ~2.7′ × 1.8′; extended faint halo is much larger.
- Integrated brightness: ~mag 10.1 (visual).
- Central star: hot white dwarf (temperature estimates around ~88,000 K).
- Morphology notes: Edge-on torus + opposing lobes; strong [O III] and [N II] filaments; fossil AGB halo.
Taken with
- Skywatcher Explorer 200/1000
- Touptek 183 CA
- On Skywatcher EQ 5 Pro Mount
- Guide scope TS Optics 50/90
- Guide Camera Touptek 327C
- Sequencer NINA Advanced Sequencer.
- Guiding with PHD2
- Exposures 20 x 600 secs
- Streach and Beackground removeal with Siril & GraXpert
- Final Touch GIMP
