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When to photograph M 76 (Barbell Nebula)

M 76, the Barbell Nebula, is a planetary nebula in Perseus, 1′ across at magnitude 10.1. Also listed as NGC 650.

When to photograph it

From 45° N the best months are October to December, with up to 10.3 hours of astronomical darkness above 30° in November. It reaches 83° at its highest. It never sets from this latitude, so some imaging is possible all year.

From 35° S it never climbs above 30°. It peaks at 3° when it crosses the meridian, low enough that haze and light pollution soften it. It is possible with a clear northern horizon, but hard.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec10h0
From 45° NFrom 35° SDark hours above 30°, on the 15th of each month

Framing

At 1′ it is small. Even 4000 mm of focal length leaves it filling less than a third of an APS-C frame, so it suits long focal lengths, small pixels and good seeing.

Filters and the moon

Planetary nebulae are bright in OIII and H-alpha and small, so narrowband works and the moon matters less. Short subs help with the bright core. The dark sky calendar shows which nights this month are moon-free where you are.

Plan it for tonight

Dates and times depend on your exact location. The imaging planner shows M 76's altitude through tonight, its transit time and its distance from the moon. For sub length, use the exposure calculator.

Nearby targets

Gear that suits M 76

M 76 is only 1.1′ across, so it stays small in any amateur telescope. The longest focal length gives it the most pixels. It shines in H-alpha and OIII, so a dual-band filter on a color camera cuts through light pollution and moonlight.

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