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NGC 7023
NGC 7023
Exposure Data
  • Image Field of View: 30.03' x 20.02'
  • Camera Field of View: 74.76' x 49.83'
  • Scope: 130 mm f/8 triplet apochromatic refractor
  • Focal Length: 1,025 mm
  • Focal Ratio: f/8
  • Camera: Canon 20Da
  • ISO: 1600
  • Exposure: 8 x 600 seconds (80 minutes total)
  • Filter: IDAS LPS
  • SQM: 21.81

The Iris Nebula, in the constellation of Cepheus, is a reflection nebula that surrounds open cluster NGC 7023.

The nebula is a complex mixture of reflection, emission and dark nebulosity surrounding a 7.4 magnitude star that illuminates the reflection nebula. The star, HD 200775, is a Herbig Be star that is a pre-main sequence star with a mass between 3 and 15 solar masses. The star is only 5,000 years old.

The Iris Nebula is located 1,300 light-years away, and subtends an apparent angle of 15 x 12 arcminutes. At that distance, this would correspond to a true size of 5.6 light-years in diameter.

The star cluster NGC 7023 shines at magnitude 7.1 and has a diameter of 5 arcminutes.

NGC 7023 was discovered by William Herschel in 1794.

North is to the right in the above image.

NGC 7023
  • Catalogs: NGC 7023, VdB 139, LBN 487
  • Common Name: Iris Nebula
  • Object Type: Reflection Nebula
  • Magnitude: 7.1b
  • Size: 15' x 12'
  • Constellation: Cepheus
  • Image Field Centered At:
    • RA: 21h 01m 26s
    • Dec: +68° 09' 42"




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