[MNA2010] IRAS 20568+5217 Nebula

[MNA2010] IRAS 20568+5217 Nebula is listed at SIMBAD as a reflection nebula though it has the red color of a hydrogen emission nebula. The illuminating star is a FU Orionis star, a star still contracting and heating its core to move to the main sequence. Such stars can vary by a factor of 100 or more. They are often surrounded by dust clouds some of which they may illuminate. Comparing my image to the red POSS II image I see quite a difference. In the POSS II image the brightest portion is just northwest of the star while it is southeast in my image. The fainter region to the northwest extends much further than it does in the POSS II image. Thus this nebula is variable. How quickly it varies I don't know as I find nothing about this in the literature which is quite skimpy as to this nebula.

The field is full of dark nebula. I've noted those that are in SIMBAD though there are others I was unable to identify. Another bright nebula is seen at the left edge of my image above the centerline. SIMBAD lists it as a "Composite Object" I assume what is seen in my image is a reflection nebula likely illuminated by one of the stars on either side of it. Both are listed as being "Young Stellar Objects" by SIMBAD.

Red POSS II image:
http://stdatu.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_...fov=NONE&v 3=

14" LX200R @ f/10, L=4x10 RGB=2x10, STL-11000XM, Paramount ME

Rick

Rick,

that would be unusual for a reflection nebula indeed. The field is filled with object of all sorts, very interesting.