The
Little Dumbbell Nebula, also known as Messier 76, NGC 650/651, the Barbell Nebula, or the Cork Nebula,=10.5px is a
planetary nebula in northern
constellationPerseus. It was discovered by
Pierre Méchain in 1780 and included in
Charles Messier's catalog of
comet-like objects as number 76. It was first recognised as a planetary nebula in 1918 by the
astronomerHeber Doust Curtis. However, there is some contention to this claim, as Isaac Roberts in 1891 did suggest that M76 might be similar to the
Ring Nebula (M57), being instead as seen from the side view.
[2] The structure is now classed as a bipolar planetary nebula (BPNe), denoting two stars which have burst, leaving neutron star or white dwarf remnants and luminous envelopes.
[3] Distance to M76 is currently estimated as 780
parsecs or 2,500
light years, making the average dimensions about 0.378 pc. (1.23 ly.) across.
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