M76

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M76 is possibly one of the overlooked gems of the night sky. It lies in Pereus close to the border with Andromeda and is a planetary nebula similar to M27 in Vulpecula. In fact it is known as the Little Dumbbell. It is much smaller and its bright ends are more distinctive than its larger cousin. It is a bit of an oddity in having two NGC numbers, as William Herschel thought it to be two 'nebulae' rather than parts of the same one.