C68
Reflection Nebula in Corona Australis
About
NGC 6729, a fan-shaped reflection nebula in Corona Australis, lit by the young star R Coronae Australis about 420 light-years away. It is a variable nebula: its brightness and shape change irregularly over time, much like Hubble's Variable Nebula.
Imaging tips
- Small, only about 2.5′ × 2′, so it is too small to frame: use a long focal length and a fine pixel scale.
- A reflection nebula, so broadband is the right filter. One 26-hour image mixed 9.8 hours of luminance with RGB and added 9.3 hours of Hα.
- Nearby in the same region are the nebulae NGC 6726 and 6727 and the globular NGC 6723, so a wider field takes them in too.
- Best in June and July, but it stays below 3° altitude from 50°N and about 18° from 35°N.
Facts
- Size
- 2.5′ × 2′
- Magnitude
- —
- Coordinates
- RA 19h 1.8m, Dec −36° 58′
- Framing, APS-C
- longer than 4000 mm
- Framing, full frame
- longer than 4000 mm
- Best months
- Jun, Jul
- Peak altitude
- 3° from 50°N, 18° from 35°N