Ghost Head Nebula
Also known as NGC 2080
Ghost Head Nebula is an HII region (glowing hydrogen) in the constellation Dorado.
Star-forming nebula in the Large Magellanic Cloud
Facts
| Type | HII region (glowing hydrogen) |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Dorado |
| Position (J2000) | 5h 39m 45s, −69° 38′ |
| Brightness | magnitude 10.42 (smaller is brighter; the faintest stars the eye sees are about 6) |
| Size on the sky | 1′ × 1′ (the full Moon is about 31′) |
| Filter | UHC (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 in | 100 scientific papers (SIMBAD) |
When and how to see it
Ghost Head Nebula is highest in the sky at midnight in December. It never rises from India (about 20° N); from 50° N it never rises. 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 Dorado
Everything in Dorado · All 88 constellations · All sky objects
Data: SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg; the site's weekly copy) · OpenNGC · Data sources & credits