Bow-Tie Nebula
Also known as NGC 40
Bow-Tie Nebula is a planetary nebula in the constellation Cepheus, about 5,810 light-years from Earth.
Planetary nebula in Cepheus shaped like a bow tie
Facts
| Type | Planetary nebula (spectral type [WC8]) |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Cepheus |
| Position (J2000) | 0h 13m 01s, +72° 31′ |
| Distance | 5,810 light-years (its light set off about 5,810 years ago) |
| Brightness | magnitude 11.46 (smaller is brighter; the faintest stars the eye sees are about 6) |
| Size on the sky | 0.1′ × 0.8′ (the full Moon is about 31′) |
| Filter | OIII filter (Planetary nebulae and supernova remnants shine mostly in the green light of doubly ionised oxygen: an OIII filter passes it and darkens the sky around it.) |
| Studied in | 638 scientific papers (SIMBAD) |
When and how to see it
Bow-Tie Nebula is highest in the sky at midnight in September. From India (about 20° N) it climbs to about 37° above the horizon; from 50° N, to about 67°. To see it you need a small telescope.
Heights are worked out for India and for 50° N. Set your location in Settings to see them for where you are.
For tonight's best time from your own town, the darkness and the Moon, open it on the map and see its "Tonight from your location" card.
More in Cepheus
Everything in Cepheus · All 88 constellations · All sky objects
Data: SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg; the site's weekly copy) · OpenNGC · Data sources & credits