Merope Nebula (NGC 1435)
The most conspicuous of the reflection nebulae in the Pleiades; it was discovered by Wilhelm Tempel in 1859 and is sometimes called Tempel's Nebula. Within it is a small bright knot, IC 349, discovered by Edwin Barnard in 1890 (and thus also known as Barnard's Merope Nebula), located just 0.06 light-year away from Merope – the star that is the cause of its illumination. Long thought to be the remnant of the Pleiades birth, the Merope Nebula is now known to be a chance occurrence, as the cluster is merely passing through an interstellar cloud; in fact, the cluster leaves a wake.
| angular size |
30' |
| distance |
440 light-years (135 pc) |
| position |
R.A. 03h 46.1m; Dec. 23° 47' |
| other designations |
GC 768, Tempel's Nebula,
Auw 18 |
Related category
• NEBULAE AND STAR CLUSTERS
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