Like its brighter namesake M27 (the Dumbbell Nebula), M76 is recognized as a planetary nebula - a gaseous shroud cast off by a dying sunlike star.

• 与较亮的具有同名"哑铃星云"的M27一样，M76也被认为是一个行星状星云-它是一颗类似太阳一样的恒星死亡时释放出的气壳。