Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Monoceros (Mon)  ·  Contains:  Hubble's variable neb  ·  NGC 2261
NGC2261 Hubble Variable Nebula, AlBroxton
NGC2261 Hubble Variable Nebula
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NGC2261 Hubble Variable Nebula

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Description

NGC 2261 (also known as Hubble's Variable Nebula or Caldwell 46) is a variable nebula located in the constellation Monoceros. It is illuminated by the star R Monocerotis (R Mon), which is not directly visible itself. What causes Hubble's Variable Nebula to vary? The unusual nebula pictured above changes its appearance noticeably in just a few weeks. Discovered over 200 years ago and subsequently cataloged as NGC2661, the remarkable nebula is named for Edwin Hubble, who studied it earlier this century. Hubble's Variable Nebula is a reflection nebula made of gas and fine dust fanning out from the star R Monocerotis. The faint nebula is about one light-year across and lies about 2500 light-years away towards the constellation of Monocerotis. A leading variability explanation for Hubble's Variable Nebula holds that dense knots of opaque dust pass close to R Mon and cast moving shadows onto the reflecting dust seen in the rest of the nebula. Discovered by William Herschel.

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Revisions

  • NGC2261 Hubble Variable Nebula, AlBroxton
    Original
  • NGC2261 Hubble Variable Nebula, AlBroxton
    B
  • Final
    NGC2261 Hubble Variable Nebula, AlBroxton
    C

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NGC2261 Hubble Variable Nebula, AlBroxton

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Allen Broxton