Waid Observatory

Object: M76
Date: 10/15/2003       Location: Margate, FL
Telescope: LX200GPS-12U Camera: ST-10XME/AO7/CFW-8a
Exposure: = L: 28.5 min.  R: 15 min.  G: 15 min.  B: 22.5 min.

 

M76 The Little Dumbbell Nebula

 

M76 (The Little Dumbbell Nebula) 1

  Discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1780.

Messier 76 is a typical planetary nebula similar to M27, the Dumbbell Nebula, from which it gets its name.  It is also known as the Butterfly Nebula and the Cork Nebula.  This nebula is one of the fainter of the Messier objects.  It consists of essentially two parts, the bright inner rectangle and the faint "wings" or loops of gas extending to each side.  The central rectangle is thought to be a cylinder of gas that we see from the side.  If viewed from end on it would probably resemble a ring much like M57.  The distance to the nebula is not precisely known.  SEDS places its distance at 3400 light years from earth.

1http://www.seds.org/messier/m/m076.html

 
Copyright Donald P. Waid