Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Monoceros (Mon)  ·  Contains:  B37  ·  NGC 2245  ·  NGC 2247
Getting plate-solving status, please wait...
NGC 2245 & NGC 2247 / vdB 82, Gary Imm
Powered byPixInsight

NGC 2245 & NGC 2247 / vdB 82

Getting plate-solving status, please wait...
NGC 2245 & NGC 2247 / vdB 82, Gary Imm
Powered byPixInsight

NGC 2245 & NGC 2247 / vdB 82

Equipment

Loading...

Acquisition details

Loading...

Description

This object, sort of a miniature version of M78, is a pair of reflection nebulae located in the constellation of Monoceros at a declination of +10 degrees. NGC 2245 is to the right and NGC 2247 (also known as vdB 82) is to the left. It is odd to me that the NGC 2245 does not also have a vdB designation.

Distance estimates are a challenge for nebulae. NGC 2245 looks like it is lit up by a hidden cluster called simply the NGC 2245 Stellar Group, with no distance estimates given. The 9th magnitude blue star HD 259431 appears to be the source star for NGC 2247, which would put it about 2400 light years away. Each nebula spans about 6 arc-minutes in our apparent view, which at 2400 light years away corresponds to a width of 5 light years each.

The dark nebula at the top left is Dobashi 4723. There is an interesting tiny orange reflection nebula that lies halfway between the center of the 2 nebula and the top of the image. I could find no information on this object.

I like the small ripples that are evident in the refection nebulae dust clouds, as well as the purple color shading on the outer fringes of the nebulae.

Comments