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Reflection Nebula IC 2631 (ESO)

A wispy blue-white cloud on a background of stars.

An image from the European Southern Observatory shows blue light from a newborn star lights up the reflection nebula IC 2631. This nebula is part of the Chamaeleon star-forming region, which Webb will study to learn more about the formation of water and other cosmic ices.

About the Object

  • R.A. Position
    R.A. PositionRight ascension – analogous to longitude – is one component of an object's position.
    11h 9m 52.23s
  • Dec. Position
    Dec. PositionDeclination – analogous to latitude – is one component of an object's position.
    -76° 35' 38.73"
  • Constellation
    ConstellationOne of 88 recognized regions of the celestial sphere in which the object appears.
    Chamaeleon
  • Distance
    DistanceThe 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.
    500 light-years

About the Data

  • Data Description
    Data 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.

    Field of view: 38.84 x 35.90 arcminutes

  • Object Name
    Object NameA name or catalog number that astronomers use to identify an astronomical object.
    IC 2631
  • Object Description
    Object DescriptionThe type of astronomical object.
    Reflection nebula
  • Release Date
    March 9, 2018
  • Science Release
    NASA’s Webb Telescope to Make a Splash in Search for Interstellar Water
    Read the release
  • Credit
    Image: ESO

Downloads

  • Full Res, 4000 × 3698
    jpg (5.88 MB)
  • Full Res, 4000 × 3698
    png (25.92 MB)
  • 2000 × 1849
    png (7.2 MB)

Related Images & Videos

A simulated spectrum from the Webb telescope illustrates the molecules that may be detected in star-forming regions like the Eagle Nebula. It shows a spectrum plotted on a graph of brightness of light on the vertical y-axis versus wavelength of light in microns on the horizontal x-axis.

Webb Telescope Simulated Spectrum

This simulated spectrum from the Webb telescope illustrates the kinds of molecules that may be detected in star-forming regions like the Eagle Nebula (background).

Illustration of ice on dust grains

Ice Formation in a Protoplanetary Disk

In this animation we fly into a protoplanetary disk surrounding a young star. Within the disk, tiny dust grains accumulate layers of ice over thousands of years. These cosmic snowflakes are swept up by forming planets, delivering key ingredients for life.

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Details

Last Updated
Aug 28, 2025
Contact
Media

Laura Betz
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland
laura.e.betz@nasa.gov

Image Credit

ESO

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