Object of the Season

Bipolar planetary nebula M76 in Perseus

The bipolar planetary nebula M 76 in Perseus, catalogued as the pair NGC 650/651, was found by Méchain on 5 September 1780. It is known as the Little Dumbbell Nebula. It is among the faintest objects in the Messier catalogue.

An image of Bipolar planetary nebula M76 in Perseus by the Hubble Space Telescope (Image credit: NASA, ESA, STScI, A. Pagan (STScI)).
An image of Bipolar planetary nebula M76 in Perseus by the Hubble Space Telescope (Image credit: NASA, ESA, STScI, A. Pagan (STScI)).
Name
M 76
Position (2000)
01 42 19.7 +51 34 32 (Per)
Type
Planetary nebula
Visual Magnitude
10.1 magnitude
Size
2.7' x 1.8'
Distance
1359 ly
Other Designations
I 193, GC 385, NGC 650/651, PK 130-10.1

Results of the observations of M 76 will be published in DSO 199.

Wolfgang Steinicke - Nebulae and Clusters Section Director