Deep Sky Object in Autumn
M76 (Planetary Nebula in Perseus)


Date & Time: Dec 28 2024, from 18:36 to 19:30 JST(+0900)
Composed 10 shots with 6 minutes exposed
Optical: Meade 25cm(10") Schmidt-Cassegrain with conversion lens (f=1600mm, F6.3)
with IDAS LPS-P1 Light-pollution suppression filter
Auto-guided with Meade LX200 Equatorial & Lacerta M-GEN
Digital Camera: Nikon D810A
Location: Ooizumi, Hokuto city, Yamanashi pref.

Camera Settings: Recording Format...14bit CCD-RAW, converted to 16bit TIFF(2040×2040)
Device Size...10×10mm
Sensitivity...ISO4000, White Balance...Daylight


M76 (NGC650-1) / Planetary Nebula, type V
R.A.01h 42m 18.0s (2000.0)
Dec.+51° 34' 00" (2000.0)
Apparent Size2.5×1.5'
Real Size6.23×3.45 light yrs.
Magnitude12.2
Distance8180 light yrs.
M76 is a tiny planetary nebula at around the midway of alpha Cas and gamma And. Though M76 belongs to the constellation of Perseus, you can find the nebula easily by using of 51 Andromedae (tip of right toe of Princess) as pilotage. The nebula lies about 3 degrees NNE from it.
M76 has a nickname of "Little Dumb-bell Nebula" because the shape is very similar to shrinked Dumb-bell Nebula (M27) in Vulpecula. The nebula is very dimmed, so it might be needed large-sized telescope to enjoy the shape of M76.
The nebula is estimated about 8000 light years from the solar system.



NGC40

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