Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Cepheus (Cep)  ·  Contains:  HD200775  ·  Iris Nebula  ·  LBN 487  ·  LDN 1174  ·  NGC 7023
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NGC 7023 - Iris Nebula, Darius Kopriva
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NGC 7023 - Iris Nebula

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NGC 7023 - Iris Nebula, Darius Kopriva
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NGC 7023 - Iris Nebula

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Description

The Iris Nebula (also known as NGC 7023 and Caldwell 4) is a bright reflection nebula in the constellation Cepheus. The designation NGC 7023 refers to the open cluster within the larger reflection nebula designated LBN 487. The nebula, which shines at magnitude +6.8, is illuminated by a magnitude +7.4 star designated SAO 19158. It is located near the Mira-type variable star T Cephei, and near the bright magnitude +3.23 variable star Beta Cephei (Alfirk). It lies 1,300 light-years away and is six light-years across

Outside of the reflection nebula, which is illuminated blue by the star, there are other nebulae, some faintly glowing, some made of dark interstellar dust. They are particularly noticeable because the apparent star density is lower there. The nebula is an active star-forming region. Measurements by the Gaia probe gave a distance of 335 ± 11 pc (1093 ± 36 light years). The open star cluster is about 10 arc minutes in diameter, which is about three light-years at this distance. The reflection nebula is about twice as large.

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NGC 7023 - Iris Nebula, Darius Kopriva

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