Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Cepheus (Cep)  ·  Contains:  HD198385  ·  HD198737  ·  HD200099  ·  HD200775  ·  Iris Nebula  ·  LBN 468  ·  LBN 475  ·  LBN 483  ·  LBN 487  ·  LBN 495  ·  LDN 1147  ·  LDN 1148  ·  LDN 1155  ·  LDN 1158  ·  LDN 1167  ·  LDN 1168  ·  LDN 1170  ·  LDN 1171  ·  LDN 1172  ·  LDN 1173  ·  LDN 1174  ·  LDN 1177  ·  NGC 7023  ·  Sh2-136  ·  T Cep  ·  VdB141
NGC 7023 - Iris Nebula, Darius Kopriva
Powered byPixInsight

NGC 7023 - Iris Nebula

NGC 7023 - Iris Nebula, Darius Kopriva
Powered byPixInsight

NGC 7023 - Iris Nebula

Equipment

Loading...

Acquisition details

Loading...

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.

Comments

Sky plot

Sky plot

Histogram

NGC 7023 - Iris Nebula, Darius Kopriva

In these public groups

Southern Hemisphere Astro