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Planetary nebula

The Little Dumbbell Nebula

Also M76 · NGC 650 · NGC 651

Open in OuranosCompare its size

The glowing shell thrown off by a dying Sun-like star, its two lobes earning it the name Little Dumbbell.

Measured

Distance
about 4,684 light-years (published estimates 2,433–4,684)
Size
about 3.2 light-years across (approximate)
Constellation
Perseus
Position (J2000)
RA 1h 42m 20s, Dec +51.58°

How far, from the Sun

About 4,680 light-years. To cross it:

  • Light4,680 years
  • Voyager 1's speed83.2 million years
  • Driving at 100 km/h50.6 billion years

Voyager 1 at the speed it moved outward over the year to 2026-10-25 (JPL Horizons). Driving: nonstop, never refuelling.

Facts

  • It is one of the faintest objects in Messier's list.
  • It was given two NGC numbers because its two lobes looked like separate nebulae.

Where this comes from

  • Statistical distances: Stanghellini & Haywood 2010, ApJ 714, 1096 (1.436 kpc) and Stanghellini, Shaw & Villaver 2008, ApJ 689, 194 (746 pc)
  • This research has made use of the SIMBAD database, CDS, Strasbourg, France (Wenger et al. 2000, A&AS 143, 9).
  • This research has made use of the VizieR catalogue access tool, CDS, Strasbourg, France (DOI: 10.26093/cds/vizier).

Every catalogue Ouranos draws is credited on the credits page.