Iris nebula facts for kids
| Reflection nebula | |
|---|---|
Iris Nebula (NGC 7023 and LBN487)
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| Observation data: J2000.0 epoch | |
| Right ascension | 21h 01m 35.60s |
| Declination | +68° 10′ 10.0" |
| Distance | 1,300 ly |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 6.8 |
| Apparent dimensions (V) | 18' x 18' |
| Constellation | Cepheus |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Radius | 3 ly |
| Designations | NGC 7023 and LBN487, Caldwell 4 |
The Iris Nebula is a beautiful cloud of dust and gas in space. It is also known by its catalog names NGC 7023 and Caldwell 4. This amazing object is a type of nebula called a reflection nebula. It gets its name because it looks a bit like an iris flower. You can find it in the constellation Cepheus, which is a group of stars that looks like a king.
The Iris Nebula is actually a larger cloud of gas and dust known as LBN 487. Inside this cloud is a star cluster called NGC 7023. The nebula glows because it reflects light from a nearby bright star, SAO 19158. This star is quite bright, with a magnitude of about +7. The whole nebula shines at a magnitude of +6.8.
The Iris Nebula is very far away, about 1,300 light-years from Earth. To give you an idea, one light-year is the distance light travels in one year! The nebula itself is huge, stretching about six light-years across. It is located near other interesting stars like T Cephei and Beta Cephei (Alphirk).
What is a Nebula?
A nebula is a giant cloud of dust and gas in outer space. These clouds are often where new stars are born. They can also be the remains of old stars that have exploded. Nebulae come in many different shapes, sizes, and colors. They are some of the most beautiful objects we can see in the universe.
Reflection Nebulae
The Iris Nebula is a special kind of nebula called a reflection nebula. Unlike some nebulae that make their own light, reflection nebulae do not. Instead, they glow because they reflect light from nearby stars. Think of it like dust in a sunbeam. You can see the dust because it reflects the sunlight. In the same way, the dust and gas in the Iris Nebula reflect the light from the bright star SAO 19158, making it visible to us.
Location in Space
The Iris Nebula is found in the constellation Cepheus. This constellation is in the northern part of the sky. It is named after a mythical king. The nebula is part of a larger group of objects that astronomers study. It is also listed in the Caldwell catalogue, which is a list of interesting star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies that amateur astronomers can observe.
Images for kids
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The Iris Nebula
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Iris Nebula NGC 7023 by N. Taylor Blanchard
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Iris Nebula (NGC 7023) by P. Beyers
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NGC7023 Iris Nebula. By Bill Tinsley
See also
In Spanish: Nebulosa Iris para niños
