Cosmic Bat Nebula
Also known as NGC 1788
Cosmic Bat Nebula is a reflection nebula in the constellation Orion.
Dusty reflection nebula in Orion shaped like a bat
Facts
| Type | Reflection nebula |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Orion |
| Position (J2000) | 5h 06m 53s, −3° 20′ |
| Brightness | magnitude 5.8 (smaller is brighter; the faintest stars the eye sees are about 6) |
| Size on the sky | 2′ × 2′ (the full Moon is about 31′) |
| Filter | No filter (It shines by reflected starlight, which a nebula filter would dim.) |
| Studied in | 36 scientific papers (SIMBAD) |
When and how to see it
Cosmic Bat Nebula is highest in the sky at midnight in December. From India (about 20° N) it climbs to about 67° above the horizon; from 50° N, to about 37°. To see it you need the naked eye from a dark site.
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 Orion
- Barnard's Loop
- De Mairan's Nebula (M43)
- Flame Nebula
- Horsehead Nebula
- M78 (NGC 2068)
- Monkey Head Nebula
- Orion Nebula (M42)
- TXS 0506+056
Everything in Orion · All 88 constellations · All sky objects
Data: SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg; the site's weekly copy) · OpenNGC · Data sources & credits