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Hubble’s Variable Nebula (NGC 2261)
Hubble's variable nebula is named (like the Hubble telescope itself) after the American astronomer Edwin P. Hubble, who carried out some of the early studies of this object. It is a fan-shaped cloud of gas and dust which is illuminated by R Monocerotis (R Mon), the bright star at the bottom end of the nebula. Dense condensations of dust near the star cast shadows out into the nebula, and as they move the illumination changes, giving rise to the variations first noted by Hubble. The star itself, lying about 2,500 light-years from Earth, cannot be seen directly, but only through light scattered off of dust particles in the surrounding nebula. R Mon is believed to have a mass of about 10 times that of the Sun, and to have an age of only 300,000 years. There is probably a symmetrical counterpart of the fan-shaped nebula on the southern side of the star, but it is heavily obscured from view by dust lying between this lobe and our line of sight.
The Hubble Heritage team made this image from observations of R Mon acquired by William Sparks (STScI), Sylvia Baggett (STScI) and collaborators.
About the Object
- R.A. PositionR.A. PositionRight ascension – analogous to longitude – is one component of an object's position.06h 39m 10.0s
- Dec. PositionDec. PositionDeclination – analogous to latitude – is one component of an object's position.08° 45' 0.0"
- ConstellationConstellationOne of 88 recognized regions of the celestial sphere in which the object appears.Monoceros
- DistanceDistanceThe physical distance from Earth to the astronomical object. Distances within our solar system are usually measured in Astronomical Units (AU). Distances between stars are usually measured in light-years. Interstellar distances can also be measured in parsecs.2,500 light-years (800 pc)
- DimensionsDimensionsThe physical size of the object or the apparent angle it subtends on the sky.The nebula is about 1 light-year across. The image is 2.5 arcminutes on the vertical side.
About the Data
- Data DescriptionData DescriptionProposal: A description of the observations, their scientific justification, and the links to the data available in the science archive.
Science Team: The astronomers who planned the observations and analyzed the data. "PI" refers to the Principal Investigator.The Hubble Heritage team made this image from observations of R Mon acquired by Principal Astronomers: W. Sparks and S. Baggett (STScI) and collaborators - InstrumentInstrumentThe science instrument used to produce the data.HST>WFPC2
- Exposure DatesExposure DatesThe date(s) that the telescope made its observations and the total exposure time.February 5, 1995, Exposure Time: 1.6 hours
- FiltersFiltersThe camera filters that were used in the science observations.F555W (V), F675W (R), and F814W (I)
- Object NameObject NameA name or catalog number that astronomers use to identify an astronomical object.Hubble's Variable Nebula, NGC 2261, R Monocerotis Nebula
- Object DescriptionObject DescriptionThe type of astronomical object.Reflection Nebula in the Milky Way Galaxy
- Release DateOctober 7, 1999
- Science ReleaseHubble Heritage Project’s First Anniversary
- Credit
Blue: F555W (V) Green: F675W (R) Red: F814W (I)
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Claire Andreoli
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland
claire.andreoli@nasa.gov
