NGC 7380
Wizard Nebula
NGC 7380 is a relatively young and vibrant open star cluster that is embedded within a glowing emission nebula, which is commonly referred to by astronomers and stargazers as the “Wizard Nebula.” This fascinating and active region of star formation is situated in the northern constellation of Cepheus. It lies at an impressive distance of roughly 7,000 to 8,000 light-years away from our planet Earth, making it a remarkable object of study in our galaxy.
Key Characteristics
appearance:
The nebula’s intricate shape, carved by powerful stellar winds and radiation from the hot, young stars within it, is said to resemble a wizard in a pointed hat with outstretched arms.
Star formation:
NGC 7380 is an active stellar nursery, with the embedded stars estimated to be only 4 to 11.9 million years old (very young in cosmic terms).
composition:
The nebula is primarily composed of hydrogen, sulphur, and oxygen gases, which glow in distinctive colours when ionised by the intense radiation from the central stars.
visibility:
The nebula is quite faint and difficult to observe visually, usually requiring very dark skies and specialised O-III or narrowband filters; it is a popular target for astrophotography, however.
discovery:
It was discovered by the astronomer Caroline Herschel in 1787. It is also catalogued as Sh2-142 in the Sharpless catalog.