M76 is currently classified as a bipolar planetary nebula, meaning that it is thought that 2 stars may have exploded near one another. Two planetary nebulae or just one? The nebula is roughly 2,500 light years away. It was originally thought to be 2 separate emission nebula, so it has 2 NGC numbers assigned to it NGC 650 and NGC 651.
The Little Dumbbell name was given to it because of its apparent similarities with the Dumbbell Nebula:
https://astrob.in/50hpfw/0/They both have interesting details in the Ha clouds near the core. The winding pink streams were fun to process. Most of the detail in this nebula is in Ha, even though it is a planetary nebula. The best image that I could find to use as a guide was from the Liverpool Telescope, a 2m telescope in La Palma here:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/63/Little_Dumbbell_Nebula_M76_by_Goran_Nilsson%2C_Wim_van_Berlo_%26_Liverpool_Telescope.jpgAnother good version is from Adam Block at Mount Lemmon:
https://www.messier-objects.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Messier-76.jpgIn my last few images using my C11 (Dumbbell, Crescent, Bubble, Blue Flash and now Little Dumbbell) I have been concentrating on processing the data without losing image details as I go. I have also re-blinked my data and pruned out some additional images that passed my first blink process. I believe they represent a significant improvement in my processing. In order to see the details in the first 3, you had to drill into the image. In the Blue Flash and Little Dumbbell I chose to present the target 'in your face' so to speak.
CS,
Bob
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