- B20 minutes (2 frames)
NGC 1579 is a diffuse nebula located in the constellation Perseus, about 2,100 light-years from Earth. This cloud of gas and dust is an active star-forming region, where many young stars have formed. The nebula was discovered in 1895 by the American astronomer Edward Emerson Barnade.
Size and structure
NGC 1579 is about 4 light-years in diameter, and its brightness is largely due to light that is scattered in gases ionized by young stars within the nebula. This phenomenon, known as diffuse glow, gives the nebula its characteristic appearance.
Stars and Star Formation
The nebula contains young stars of various types, including hot O and B stars, as well as star binaries. Studying this object helps astronomers better understand how star formation occurs in gas and dust clouds, as well as how it affects the evolution of galaxies as a whole.
Color Components and Nature of Emission
NGC 1579 is known as the Northern Trifid due to its similarity to the Trifid Nebula (Messier 20) located in the southern hemisphere. The nebula consists of both red and blue components. The blue color represents reflected stellar luminosity by the nebula, while the red color is due to the emission of a powerful young star that shines strongly in the hydrogen alpha ray. The light from these stars is then absorbed and scattered by dust within the core of the nebula, giving it its characteristic reddish hue.
Important Stars and Ionization
The nebula contains a cluster of stars, among which the star LkHα 101 stands out, which is the source of ionizing radiation for the nebula. This star has a significant influence on the surrounding gas clouds, creating an H-II region where gas and dust ionize and begin to glow.
Relationship to Molecular Clouds
NGC 1579 is located within a giant molecular cloud known as the California Molecular Cloud. This cloud also includes the famous California Nebula, which is its brightest and most prominent feature. It is expected that this molecular cloud may be a site for the formation of new stars in the future.
Discoveries and Research
The galactic nebula NGC 1579 was discovered by William Herschel on December 27, 1788, and was included in his catalog as WH I 217. Later, in 1888, it was described in the New General Catalog by John Leister Dryer as NGC 1579.
This object is also of interest to astronomers studying star-gas interactions, since stars here are formed by the compression of gas and its subsequent ionization, which leads to the bright glow of the entire region.
Distance and Age
The distance from NGC 1579 to Earth is about 2400 light-years (about 730 parsecs). Stars that are about 500,000 years old have been discovered in the molecular cloud, and they include both faint stars and bright B-type stars, helping astronomers model how stars form in such clouds.
Visibility chart of Diffuse Nebula NGC 1579 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•