Hubble’s Variable Nebula

E545070

Hubble’s Variable Nebula is a reflection nebula in the constellation Monoceros whose brightness and shape appear to change over time due to variable illumination from its central star.

All labels observed (4)

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (46)

Predicate Object
instanceOf nebula
reflection nebula
alsoKnownAs Caldwell 46
Hubble Variable Nebula
NGC 2261
angularSize ~2.0′ × 1.0′
apparentMagnitudeV 9.0
associatedWith Herbig Ae/Be star
young stellar object
bestSeenIn long-exposure astrophotography
small telescopes
catalog Caldwell
NGC
catalogNumber C 46
NGC 2261
DecEpoch J2000
declination +08° 44′ 10″
discoveredBy William Herschel
discoveryDate 1783
distanceFromEarth ~2500 light-years
~760 parsecs
hasCentralStar R Monocerotis
hasIlluminationMechanism starlight scattering off dust
hasMorphology cometary nebula
fan-shaped
illuminatedBy R Monocerotis
inGalacticHemisphere northern sky
locatedIn Milky Way
Orion Arm
locatedInConstellation Monoceros
namedAfter Edwin Hubble
namedForReason studied extensively by Edwin Hubble
nebulaType reflection
notableFor variable brightness
variable shape
observedBy Edwin Hubble
observedIn infrared wavelengths
optical wavelengths
partOf Monoceros star-forming region
RAEpoch J2000
rightAscension 06h 39m 10s
shows light echoes
spectralTypeOfIlluminatingStar B8e
variabilityCause variable illumination from R Monocerotis
variabilityTimescale days to months
visibleFrom Earth

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (4)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Monoceros contains Hubble’s Variable Nebula
Hubble’s Variable Nebula alsoKnownAs Hubble Variable Nebula
linked to: Hubble’s Variable Nebula
NGC 2261 alsoKnownAs Hubble's Variable Nebula
linked to: Hubble’s Variable Nebula
NGC 2261 alsoKnownAs Hubbles Variable Nebula
linked to: Hubble’s Variable Nebula