B142 — Barnard's E Nebula
Dark Nebula in Aquila
About
A dark nebula in Aquila: a cloud of dust that blocks the Milky Way stars behind it. With B143 it forms the shape known as Barnard's E, at roughly 2,000 light-years. Edward Barnard catalogued the pair in 1919.
Imaging tips
- Together with B143 it covers about half a degree, so allow a wide field: one imager's 2.57° × 1.71° field took in the whole pair.
- A dark nebula shows only as a gap in the star field, so shoot broadband. One imager used a light-pollution filter and about 68 minutes with a DSLR.
- B143 lies about 17′ away by catalogue position, so the two share one frame.
- Best around July; it peaks near 51° altitude from 50°N.
Facts
- Size
- 40′ × 30′
- Magnitude
- —
- Coordinates
- RA 19h 40.0m, Dec +10° 43′
- Framing, APS-C
- 610–1010 mm
- Framing, full frame
- 930–1550 mm
- Best months
- Jul
- Peak altitude
- 51° from 50°N, 66° from 35°N
Nearby
- B143 (Barnard's E Nebula) · 17.0′ away