B361
Dark Nebula in Cygnus
About
In Cygnus, this dark cloud (also listed as LDN 970) sits about halfway between the North America Nebula and the open cluster M39. A popular article gives it as 10 light-years across, while distances quoted range from about 1,200 to 1,800 light-years.
Imaging tips
- Roughly 10′ by 7′, which suits 2420–4040 mm on APS-C or 3710–6190 mm on full frame.
- Needs broadband: the nebula is mostly a faint haze with only a few truly black patches, so deep luminance helps show the haze as well as the dark cores.
- One imager's frame used four 10-minute luminance and two 10-minute RGB exposures through a 14-inch f/10 scope at 1.5″ per pixel.
- Best in July and August, passing nearly overhead and peaking near 87° from 50°N.
Facts
- Size
- 10′ × 7′
- Magnitude
- —
- Coordinates
- RA 21h 12.2m, Dec +47° 23′
- Framing, APS-C
- 2420–4040 mm
- Framing, full frame
- 3710–6190 mm
- Best months
- Jul, Aug
- Peak altitude
- 87° from 50°N, 78° from 35°N