Pencil Nebula (NGC 2736)
Also known as Pencil Nebula · NGC 2736
Pencil Nebula (NGC 2736) is an HII region (glowing hydrogen) in the constellation Vela.
Facts
| Type | HII region (glowing hydrogen) |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Vela |
| Position (J2000) | 9h 00m 16s, −45° 56′ |
| Size on the sky | 30′ × 7′ (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 | 19 scientific papers (SIMBAD) |
When and how to see it
Pencil Nebula (NGC 2736) is highest in the sky at midnight in February. From India (about 20° N) it climbs to about 24° above the horizon; from 50° N it never rises.
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 Vela
Everything in Vela · All 88 constellations · All sky objects
Data: SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg; the site's weekly copy) · OpenNGC · Data sources & credits