B44
Dark Nebula in Ophiuchus
About
A dark nebula in Ophiuchus, also listed as LDN 1712 in the Lynds catalogue of dark nebulae, about 500 light-years away by one imager's figure. Barnard added it to the catalogue he published in 1927, which held some 350 objects.
Imaging tips
- One imager's page gives its size as 80′, so plan a wide field rather than a long focal length.
- One imager shot it at 590 mm with 46 exposures of 6 minutes, 4 hours 36 minutes in total, over two nights.
- The Rho Ophiuchi nebula lies to its west, so a wide frame can include both.
- As a dark nebula it needs broadband rather than narrowband filters.
- It peaks near 16° altitude from 50°N, so it stays low; May and June are the best months.
Facts
- Size
- 80′
- Magnitude
- —
- Coordinates
- RA 16h 38.0m, Dec −24° 26′
- Framing, APS-C
- 300–500 mm
- Framing, full frame
- 460–770 mm
- Best months
- May, Jun
- Peak altitude
- 16° from 50°N, 31° from 35°N