Messier 76 is a planetary nebula in the constellation of Perseus.

It has several popular names, including the Little Dumbbell Nebula, Butterfly Nebula, Peanut Nebula, Cork Nebula and the Barbell Nebula.

Discovered by Pierre Méchain on September 5, 1780, it is one of only four planetary nebulae in Charles Messier's catalog. It is one of the faintest Messier objects.

M76 shines at magnitude 10.1. The brightest portion of M76 is 1 x 2 arcminutes in apparent size and the fainter outer portions give it a total size of 2.5 x 4.25 arcminutes. The central star is magnitude 16.6.

Spectroscopy pioneer William Huggins found the spectrum of M76 to be like that of a gas showing Nebulium lines in 1866. But it wasn't until 52 years later in 1918 that M76 was correctly categorized as a planetary nebula by Heber D. Curtis.

M76 is located 3,300 light-years away.

North is to the top in the above image.

Messier 76 Catalogs: M76, NGC 650, PK 130-10 1 Common Names: Little Dumbbell Butterfly Peanut Cork Barbell Object Type: Planetary Nebula Magnitude: 10.1v Size: 2.5' x 4.25' Constellation: Perseus Image Field Centered At: RA: 01h 42m 20s Dec: +51° 34' 34"