- O225 minutes (45 frames)
- S220 minutes (44 frames)
- H225 minutes (45 frames)
The Ghost Nebula (IC 63), also known as NGC 1977 or the Horsehead Nebula, is a dark nebula located in the constellation Orion. This astronomical object gets its name from its shape, which resembles the silhouette of a horse's head.
Structure and observations
The Ghost Nebula is a region of gas and dust that obscures the light behind it, creating the effect of a dark cloud against the brighter stars. It is located near the open star cluster NGC 1981 and is associated with a cloud of gas and dust known as the Orion Cloud. The nebula has an interesting structure and contains molecular clouds from which new stars may be forming.
Astronomers use infrared and radio telescopes to study the Ghost Nebula. This allows us to study the characteristics of the dust and gas, the distribution of matter within the nebula, and its interactions with surrounding stars and gas.
Significance for Astronomy
The Ghost Nebula is of interest to astronomers because it allows us to study the processes of star formation and the evolution of molecular clouds. Studying it helps to expand our knowledge of the mechanisms of star formation and the evolution of galactic clouds of gas and dust.
Parallels with the Cassiopeia Nebula
The IC 63 nebula is also known as the Ghost of Cassiopeia and is located 550 light-years away in the constellation Cassiopeia. This nebula is illuminated by the super-luminous blue star Gamma Cassiopeiae, which emits as much energy as 34,000 suns. New stars are forming in the clouds of gas and dust near the nebula. The nebula itself appears red because the hydrogen in it is irradiated by ultraviolet light from Gamma Cassiopeiae.
The IC 63 nebula is part of a much larger nebula that surrounds the star Gamma Cassiopeiae and extends for about two degrees on the sky (or four times the diameter of the full Moon).
Observations and Visibility
The constellation Cassiopeia is visible every clear night from northern latitudes. Its distinctive "W" shape is part of the astronomical image of the Queen's throne. The star Gamma Cassiopeiae, located in the middle of the "W", is visible to the naked eye, but a large telescope is required to see the IC 63 nebula.
| Photo | Date | Frames | Exposure | H | O | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 23 Jan 2021 | 134 | 11:10 | 03:45 | 03:45 | 03:40 |
Visibility chart of Ghost Nebula (IC 63) during the day
| Date | Moon Phase | Exposure | CCD Temperature | Gain | Offset | Filter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- 2023ixf•
- 40 Eri•
- Abell 74•
- Artemis A868 SA•
- a Canis Minoris•
- C 2020 R4 ATLAS•
- C 2020 T2 Palomar•
- C 2021 S3 (PANSTARRS)•
- Haumea (2003 EL61)•
- HCG 68•
- HCG 92•
- IC 1318B•
- IC 1396•
- IC 1795•
- IC 1805•
- IC 1848•
- IC 1871•
- IC 3322A•
- IC 342•
- IC 4015•
- IC 405•
- IC 417•
- IC 434•
- IC 443•
- IC 4703•
- IC 5070•
- IC 5146•
- IC 63•
- M 1•
- M 101•
- M 103•
- M 109•
- M 13•
- M 15•
- M 27•
- M 3•
- M 33•
- M 42•
- M 45•
- M 5•
- M 51•
- M 57•
- M 63•
- M 64•
- M 74•
- M 76•
- M 81•
- M 82•
- M 86•
- M 87•
- M 94•
- M 97•
- NGC 147•
- NGC 1491•
- NGC 1499•
- NGC 1579•
- NGC 1961•
- NGC 2146•
- NGC 2239•
- NGC 2403•
- NGC 281•
- NGC 4236•
- NGC 4565•
- NGC 4631•
- NGC 507•
- NGC 508•
- NGC 5866•
- NGC 5907•
- NGC 6503•
- NGC 6823•
- NGC 6888•
- NGC 6946•
- NGC 6992•
- NGC 6995•
- NGC 7000•
- NGC 7023•
- NGC 7129•
- NGC 7217•
- NGC 7331•
- NGC 7380•
- NGC 7538•
- NGC 7635•
- NGC 7640•
- NGC 7822•
- NGC 891•
- NGC 896•
- NGC 925•
- PGC 54559•
- Sh2-155•
- Sh2-168•
- Sh2 103•
- Sh2 109•
- Sh2 132•
- T CrB•
- UGC 6930•
- V1405 Cas•
- Vesta A807 FA•