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Fish Head Nebula

Also known as IC 1795

Fish Head Nebula is an HII region (glowing hydrogen) in the constellation Cassiopeia, about 13,370 light-years from Earth.

Part of the Heart Nebula complex in Cassiopeia

Fish Head Nebula: a sky-survey photograph of its field
Sky survey view (DSS2 colour, or a backup survey)

Facts

TypeHII region (glowing hydrogen)
ConstellationCassiopeia
Position (J2000)2h 26m 31s, +62° 02′
Distance13,370 light-years (its light set off about 13,370 years ago)
Size on the sky3.1′ × 3.1′ (the full Moon is about 31′)
FilterUHC (narrowband) filter (Glowing gas shines in a few colours of hydrogen and oxygen: a UHC filter passes those and blocks most light pollution and sky glow.)
Studied in248 scientific papers (SIMBAD)

When and how to see it

Fish Head Nebula is highest in the sky at midnight in October. From India (about 20° N) it climbs to about 48° above the horizon; from 50° N, to about 78°.

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 Cassiopeia

Everything in Cassiopeia · All 88 constellations · All sky objects

Data: SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg; the site's weekly copy) · OpenNGC · Data sources & credits