NGC 7380 · nebula

Wizard Nebula

NGC 7380 is a young open cluster of stars in the northern circumpolar constellation of Cepheus, discovered by Caroline Herschel in 1787.

RA22h 47m 21sDec+58° 07' 56"

Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA. Source: JPL via images.nasa.gov.

Identity & coordinates

Identification

Primary designation: NGC 7380
All designations: NGC 7380 · Wizard Nebula
Object type: Nebula
Constellation: Cepheus
Best viewing: Autumn · Winter

Coordinates & physical

Right ascension (J2000): 22h 47m 21s
Declination (J2000): +58° 07' 56"
Apparent magnitude (V): —
Distance: —

III

Visibility tonight

The science

NGC 7380 is a young open cluster of stars in the northern circumpolar constellation of Cepheus, discovered by Caroline Herschel in 1787. The surrounding emission nebulosity is known colloquially as the Wizard Nebula, which spans an angle of 25′. German-born astronomer William Herschel included his sister's discovery in his catalog, and labelled it H VIII.77. The nebula is known as S 142 in the 1959 Sharpless catalog (Sh2-142). It is extremely difficult to observe visually, usually requiring very dark skies and an O-III filter. The NGC 7380 complex is located at a distance of approximately 8.5 kilolight-years from the Sun, in the Perseus Arm of the Milky Way.

Summary adapted from Wikipedia · CC-BY-SA-4.0