Planetary Nebula in Perseus
Messier 76 is a small but distinctive planetary nebula. Through a telescope it appears to have two bright lobes with a narrower midsection, reminscent of its namesake, the Dumbbell Nebula (Messier 27). As seen in this image, the most prominent section is roughly rectangular, but this is surrounded by a fascinating structure of curves and wisps of fainter nebulosity.
| Magnitude | 10.1 |
| Apparent Size | 65" |
| Distance (light yrs) | 5,600 |
| Right Ascension | 01:42.4 |
| Declination | +51 34 |
| Field of View | 22' x 17' |
Image details: Exposure times of 60 minutes luminance, and 18 minutes each of red, green, and blue, taken with an SBIG ST-8300M imager and a 14" Meade LX850 telescope at f/8.
October 2014