Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Cepheus (Cep)  ·  Contains:  HD200775  ·  Iris Nebula  ·  LBN 487  ·  LDN 1174  ·  NGC 7023
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NGC7023 IRIS NEBULA, Edward Overstreet
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NGC7023 IRIS NEBULA, Edward Overstreet
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Description

NGC 7023, also known as the Iris Nebula, is a reflection nebula located in the constellation Cepheus. It is a beautiful and intricate celestial object that showcases the interplay between gas, dust, and starlight.The Iris Nebula gets its name from its appearance, which resembles the delicate petals of a flower, specifically an iris. It is situated approximately 1,300 light-years away from Earth and spans a region of about six light-years across.The nebula is primarily illuminated by a central young, hot star named HD 200775. The intense ultraviolet radiation emitted by this star causes the surrounding gas and dust to scatter and reflect the starlight, creating the characteristic blue glow of a reflection nebula.Within the Iris Nebula, there are dark lanes of dust that intricately weave through the illuminated gas. These dark regions create a stark contrast against the bright background and give the nebula its distinctive shape. The dust lanes are composed of tiny particles that absorb and scatter the shorter-wavelength blue light more effectively than the longer-wavelength red light, resulting in the blue coloration.

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NGC7023 IRIS NEBULA, Edward Overstreet