How big is the Iris Nebula?

2.9998 light years
Iris Nebula/Radius

Where is the Iris Nebula located?

Cepheus constellation
The Iris Nebula is a located 1,400 lightyears away in the Cepheus constellation. This floral cloud of cosmic dust and gas is a reflection nebula, meaning it glows due to the scattering of the light from its central star.

What type of nebula is the Iris Nebula?

reflection nebula
This beautiful, blushing nebula is unique amongst its counterparts. While many of the nebulae visible in the night sky are emission nebulae — clouds of dust and gas that are hot enough to emit their own radiation and light — Caldwell 4, otherwise known as the Iris Nebula or NGC 7023, is a reflection nebula.

Who discovered the Iris Nebula?

Sir William Herschel
The Iris Nebula was discovered by German-British astronomer Sir William Herschel on October 18, 1794. (Herschel has an impressive track record, having also discovered the planet Uranus and having been knighted in 1816.) His Iris Nebula has an apparent magnitude of 7.

Is there a star called Iris?

The nebula, which shines at magnitude +6.8, is illuminated by a magnitude +7.4 star designated SAO 19158….Iris Nebula.

Reflection nebula
Constellation Cepheus
Physical characteristics
Radius 3 ly
Designations NGC 7023 and LBN487, Caldwell 4, Cr 429

Is Iris a star?

The Iris is a reflection nebula, which means that it’s light comes from a bright star that reflects nearby dust. This type of deep sky object does not need a modified astro-camera to record NGC 7023 in detail.

How many reflection nebulae are there?

500 reflection nebulae
Some 500 reflection nebulae are known. A blue reflection nebula can also be seen in the same area of the sky as the Trifid Nebula.

Is there a planet named Iris?

Iris (minor planet designation: 7 Iris) is a large main-belt asteroid and perhaps remnant planetesimal orbiting the Sun between Mars and Jupiter.

Who is goddess Iris?

Iris, in Greek mythology, the personification of the rainbow and (in Homer’s Iliad, for example) a messenger of the gods. According to the Greek poet Hesiod, she was the daughter of Thaumas and the ocean nymph Electra. She was shown serving wine to the gods or escorting them to the wedding of Peleus and Thetis.