M76 Planetary Nebula in Perseus

Dear friends ... and Dave Grrrrrennan,

Finally a night under the starry sky - the first time in about two weeks - with really cold temperatures. With the CCD humming at -17.5d C, I pursued M76 in Perseus, the smaller version of the Dumbbell Nebula in Vulpecula, with four hours total exposure.

I was also fortunate to have a nice bright carbon star in the field of view. Hope you like it: www.perseus.gr/Astro-DSO-NGC-0650.htm ... I will certainly visit this object with a longer focal length instrument so as to get a closer view of this impressive planetary nebula.

Well worth the wait, another gem.

The large size view of it is particularly impressive, the nebula shows some unexpected colours, very vivid. Good stuff Anthony.

It's days like this I ask myself why I bother taking images when I can see great shots like that by just logging on here.
Well done Ant.

Really "cooool" image Anto, the reds ansd greens are striking. I love the way the bight stars twinkles split into different colours!

Beautiful image Anthony. The colours really are striking.

Well worth adding to Steven Hynes book on Planetary Nebulae Is "Cosmic Butterflies" by Sun Kwok. It's retailing on used.addall.com for as little as €6 (excluding postage). The book is a detailed account of the physics of planetary nebulae written by one of the world's experts on the subject and contains many spectacular photos of various planetaries.

I think Owen Brazell, in the UK, has a book on planetaries coming out soon as part of the Springer observing guides series.

All the best,

John