vdB21
Reflection Nebula in Taurus
About
A small reflection nebula in Taurus, about 6′ across, lying near the Pleiades. The Merope Nebula is about 26′ away, and the Pleiades are about 444 light-years away.
Imaging tips
- Only about 6′ across, so it is too small to frame: use a long focal length and a fine pixel scale.
- A reflection nebula, so broadband data is the right choice rather than narrowband filters.
- The Merope Nebula is about 26′ away, so it falls in a wider field rather than alongside this one.
- Best around November and December; it peaks near 64° altitude from 50°N.
- One imager caught the Pleiades nebulosity in 100 minutes total at 780 mm f/6 with a modified DSLR and no filter.
Facts
- Size
- 6′
- Magnitude
- —
- Coordinates
- RA 3h 45.8m, Dec +24° 22′
- Framing, APS-C
- longer than 4000 mm
- Framing, full frame
- longer than 4000 mm
- Best months
- Nov, Dec
- Peak altitude
- 64° from 50°N, 79° from 35°N