The Pipe Nebula is a large complex of dark nebulae in Ophiuchus shaped like a smoking pipe. Hold your mouse cursor over the image to see the identifications of the Barnard dark nebulae in the image.

The main portion of the Pipe occupies the lower half of this image. The bowl of the Pipe at left (east) is comprised of Barnard 78 (LDN 42). Barnard 65, 66, 67 (LDN 1773) make up the middle of the stem of the Pipe, and Barnard 59 (LDN 1746) the tip of the stem at right (west).

The Pipe Nebula is part of the Ophiuchus dark cloud complex. It is located at a distance of 450 light-years.

The brightest star in the image is Theta Ophiuchi, a 3.25 magnitude star above right of the center of the image.

Dozens of other smaller dark nebulae can also be seen in the field, including Barnard 72, the Snake Nebula, and Barnard 75.

The Pipe Nebula forms the hind quarters of the larger Dark Horse Nebula.

The overall complex can be seen with the unaided eye from a true dark-sky observing location, and is best viewed without any optical aid because it is so large. Binoculars and telescopes can be used on the smaller dark nebulae.

Many of these dark nebula were cataloged by E. E. Barnard in 1919.

North is to the top in the above image.

Pipe Nebulae Complex Catalogs: B78, B65, B66, B67, B59 Common Name: Pipe Nebula Object Type: Dark Nebulae Size: 7.5° x 4° Constellation: Ophiuchus Image Field Centered At: RA: 17h 26m 03s Dec: -24° 53' 37"