The Little Dumbell (M76) in Perseus

Images taken: Nov. 2, 2005, by Winston Jones and Fatema Jabeen.

Telescope: Meade 12 in with f/5.6 focal reducer (f=67in), guided with an AO-7 adaptive optics accessory.

Camera: SBIG ST-7 CCD

Exposures: 2x20 min red, 2x20 min + 1x15 min green, 3x20 min blue (2h35m total).

Image processing: CCDoops, CCDsoft + Photoshop CS.

The one light year sized planetary nebula M76 lies 2,800 light years from us. An old star blowing off its atmosphere into space before becoming a white dwarf.