A quick bicolour snap shot of M76 The Little Dumbbell Nebula - first time I have imaged this
Only 4 hours of data 2 Ha, 2 Oiii - imaged over three nights
Wikipedia tells us ....The
Little Dumbbell Nebula, also known as Messier 76, NGC 650/651, the Barbell Nebula, or the Cork Nebula,
[1] 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,
[4] making the average dimensions about 0.378 pc. (1.23 ly.) across.
[5]The total nebula shines at the
apparent magnitude of +10.1 with its
central star or planetary nebula nucleus (PNN) at +15.9v (16.1B) magnitude.
[1] The UV-light from the nucleus is growing a luminous nebula as its envelope, and has the surface temperature of about 88,400
K. Factoring in the solar system's movement and focussing on whether more approaching or parting, it is not receding, having
radial velocity of −19.1 km/s.
[6]The Little Dumbbell Nebula derives its common name from its resemblance to the
Dumbbell Nebula (M27) in
Vulpecula. It was originally thought to consist of two separate emission nebulae so bears
New General Catalogue numbers NGC 650 and 651.
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