M76 - The Little Bipolar Gem of Perseus

The M76 Nebula (NGC 650/651) is a discreet jewel in the Messier Catalog, yet its appearance and formation process are absolutely mind-blowing. Classified as a planetary nebula (a historical name, as it has nothing to do with planets), M76 represents the beautiful yet fleeting end of a star similar to our Sun. The image captured from the recently inaugurated Lyra Observatory is a testament to the precision and quality that modern astrophotography can achieve, revealing the details of this distant gas cloud.

Picture of M76 abtain from Lyra Observatory

Curious and Mind-Blowing Facts

• The Myth of the Double Nebula: M76 was one of the last objects added by Charles Messier to his famous catalog in 1780, though it was discovered by his colleague Pierre Méchain. For a long time, and even in the NGC catalog, it was assigned two numbers (NGC 650 and NGC 651) because it was believed to be two separate nebulae. A single nebula with a double identity!

• The White Dwarf: The Central Furnace: At the heart of M76 lies an extremely hot white dwarf, the stellar remnant of the dying star. With a surface temperature estimated to be around 120,000 degrees Celsius (about 24 times hotter than the surface of the Sun!), this dying star is responsible for emitting the ultraviolet radiation that ionizes and makes the surrounding gas glow.

• Bipolar Shape: M76 is one of the few planetary nebulae in the Messier catalog and is a classic example of a bipolar nebula. Its structure resembles a toroid or donut seen edge-on, with rapid-expansion gas jets escaping perpendicularly to that "belt," creating the two large "butterfly wing" lobes that give it its shape. This complexity is often attributed to the possible influence of a binary companion star that may have already been engulfed.

A video about this nebula made by Hubble telescope

Download and Process! Data Available

For all those interested in astronomical image processing and analysis, we have great news! The raw data used to create this spectacular image of M76 is now available for download and processing.

Find all the files, as well as more technical details of the acquisition from the Lyra Observatory, through our blog: www.loscoloresinvisibles.com. We look forward to seeing your versions of this jewel of Perseus!