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Credit & Copyright: Don Goldman
Explanation:
Also known by the popular name the "Little Dumbbell Nebula",
M76 is
one of the fainter objects listed in Charles Messier's 18th century
Catalog of
Nebulae and Star Clusters.
Like its better-known namesake M27
(the Dumbbell Nebula), M76 is recognized
as a planetary
nebula - a gaseous shroud cast off by a
dying sunlike star.
The nebula itself is thought to be shaped more like a donut, its
central box-like appearance
due to our nearly edge-on view.
Gas expanding more rapidly away from the donut hole produces the
more extensive, far flung material in
this remarkable image
that uses narrow-band
filters to highlight the
emission from hydrogen (in red) and
oxygen atoms (in greenish blue).
In particular, complex oxygen emission features are seen
above and below the main nebula to a degree not detected
in most images of M76.
Distance estimates place M76 about 3 to 5 thousand light-years away
toward the heroic constellation
Perseus,
making the nebula over a
light-year in diameter.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: M 76 - planetary nebula - narrow band filter
Publications with words: M 76 - planetary nebula - narrow band filter
See also:
- Jones Emberson 1
- APOD: 2024 February 12 Á HFG1 & Abell 6: Planetary Nebulae
- APOD: 2023 December 24 Á NGC 2440: Cocoon of a New White Dwarf
- APOD: 2023 October 3 Á MyCn 18: The Engraved Hourglass Planetary Nebula
- NGC 1360: The Robin's Egg Nebula
- APOD: 2023 April 16 Á M2 9: Wings of a Butterfly Nebula
- The Medusa Nebula