Canon 350D Hap Griffin Baader Mod
Celestron 9.25 with 0.63 reducer
27x180sec at iso 1600
30 Darks/Flats/Bias

Astronomy Magazine Picture of the Day December 19, 2007

Astronomy Magazine weekly newsletter 12-21-07

Planetary Nebula Messier 76 (M76, NGC 650/651) is one of the faintest Messier Objects, and one of only four planetary nebulae in Messier's catalog, situated in the Eastern part of constellation Perseus.

M76's distance is not well known and estimates range from 1,700 to 15,000 light years and consequently its dimensions are also not well known. The nebula shines at an apparent magnitude of +10.1 with a central star of magnitude +16.6. This star, whose expanding outer layers form the present nebula, has a surface temperature of 60,000 kelvins.

The little Dumbbell Nebula got its name from its resemblance to the Dumbbell Nebula (M27) in Vulpecula. It was originally thought to consist of two separate nebulae and was thus given two catalog numbers in the NGC, 650 and 651. It is one of the faintest and hardest to see objects in Messier's list.

It also is known under the names Cork Nebula, Butterfly Nebula, and Barbell Nebula.


November 1, 2007