Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Monoceros (Mon)  ·  Contains:  Hubble's Nebula  ·  Hubble's variable neb  ·  NGC 2261
NGC 2261 (Caldwell 46) - Hubble's Variable Nebula, Dionysus
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NGC 2261 (Caldwell 46) - Hubble's Variable Nebula

NGC 2261 (Caldwell 46) - Hubble's Variable Nebula, Dionysus
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NGC 2261 (Caldwell 46) - Hubble's Variable Nebula

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Description

Called a variable nebula because the shape and brightness slowly changes visibly even in small telescopes over weeks and months.  One explanation proposed for the variability is that dense clouds of dust near R Mon (the star which illuminates the nebula) periodically block the illumination from the star.

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NGC 2261 (Caldwell 46) - Hubble's Variable Nebula, Dionysus

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