Iris Nebula
Also known as NGC 7023
Iris Nebula is a nebula in the constellation Cepheus, about 1,120 light-years from Earth.
Reflection nebula in Cepheus
Facts
| Type | Nebula |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Cepheus |
| Position (J2000) | 21h 01m 35s, +68° 10′ |
| Distance | 1,120 light-years (its light set off about 1,120 years ago) |
| Brightness | magnitude 7.2 (smaller is brighter; the faintest stars the eye sees are about 6) |
| Size on the sky | 10′ × 8′ (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 | 746 scientific papers (SIMBAD) |
When and how to see it
Iris Nebula is highest in the sky at midnight in August. From India (about 20° N) it climbs to about 42° above the horizon; from 50° N, to about 72°. To see it you need binoculars.
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