H-NGC2185
Reflection Nebula in Monoceros
About
NGC 2185 is a reflection nebula in Monoceros, in an area where Herbig-Haro objects and young stellar objects are common. Distance estimates for the group run from 2,300 to 2,700 light-years. Herschel discovered it on 16 October 1784.
Imaging tips
- Sources give about 3′ across, so it is too small to frame on its own. One imager's frame holds it together with NGC 2182 and NGC 2183.
- One imager made a two-panel mosaic around NGC 2182 at 530 mm with a light-pollution filter and a colour camera: 8 shots of 8 minutes per panel.
- Another imager listed luminance 4 × 10 minutes and RGB 2 × 10 minutes through a 14-inch f/10 scope.
- At 23.3 mag/arcsec² it is faint, and as a reflection nebula it needs broadband rather than narrowband.
- Best in December and January, but it stays low, peaking near 34° from 50°N.
Facts
- Size
- 4′ × 3′
- Magnitude
- 12.0
- Coordinates
- RA 6h 10.0m, Dec −6° 12′
- Framing, APS-C
- longer than 4000 mm
- Framing, full frame
- longer than 4000 mm
- Best months
- Jan, Dec
- Peak altitude
- 34° from 50°N, 49° from 35°N