M76
Little Dumbbell Nebula
Properties
Position & Identifiers
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About M76
Description
The Little Dumbbell Nebula (also called the Cork or Butterfly Nebula) is a planetary nebula in Perseus, about 2,500 light-years from Earth. It is one of the faintest Messier objects and one of only four planetary nebulae in the catalog. The nebula has a bipolar structure with two lobes, giving it a miniature version of the Dumbbell Nebula (M27) appearance.
Observing Tips
Located about 1 degree north-northwest of Phi Persei, near the border with Andromeda. In binoculars it is extremely difficult or impossible to see. A 4-inch telescope at 80-100x shows a tiny, faint, slightly elongated fuzzy patch. An 8-inch reveals the two-lobed structure. An OIII filter helps significantly. M76 is often cited as the faintest Messier object and a good test of observing skills and sky conditions. Best observed from October through January.
History
Discovered by Pierre Mechain on September 5, 1780. Charles Messier cataloged it on October 21, 1780. It was once mistakenly thought to be two separate nebulae — the two lobes were cataloged as NGC 650 and NGC 651 before being recognized as parts of the same object.
Fun Facts
M76 is often considered the faintest Messier object and the most challenging to observe. Its two-lobed structure was so confusing that it received two NGC numbers (650 and 651) — the only Messier object with two NGC designations. The central star has a temperature of about 60,000 K and is one of the hottest stars known.
Community Photos (1)
Credit: Göran Nilsson, Wim van Berlo & The Liverpool Telescope. License: CC BY-SA 4.0. (Wikimedia Commons)
Skybred Feb 28, 2026