vdB30
Reflection Nebula in Camelopardalis
About
A very faint ring of dust in Camelopardalis around the blue supergiant α Camelopardalis, about 7,000 light-years away. The ring is attributed to the star's strong stellar wind, which also blows a bubble into the surrounding gas.
Imaging tips
- One imager measured the Hα-bright structure at just over 1° across, so it spans far more than a typical frame: plan a wide lens or a mosaic.
- It reflects little light and is described as hard to observe, so broadband data is the base; one imager added 8 nm Hα to LRGB for 6 h 10 min in total.
- Another imager recorded the ring with a one-shot colour camera and a light-pollution filter: 10 × 8 min at 530 mm.
- Best around November and December; it peaks near 74° altitude from 50°N.
Facts
- Size
- 20′
- Magnitude
- —
- Coordinates
- RA 4h 54.1m, Dec +66° 21′
- Framing, APS-C
- 1210–2020 mm
- Framing, full frame
- 1860–3090 mm
- Best months
- Nov, Dec
- Peak altitude
- 74° from 50°N, 59° from 35°N