Astronomy:Barnard's Loop

Short description: Emission nebula in the constellation of Orion

Barnard's Loop

Emission nebula
H II region
Barnard's Loop can be seen on this image as a diffuse red semicircle.
Observation data: J2000 epoch
Right ascension	05h 27.5m
Declination	−03° 58′
Distance	either 518 or 1434 ly
Apparent magnitude (V)	5
Apparent dimensions (V)	10°
Constellation	Orion
Physical characteristics
Radius	either 50 or 150 ly
Designations	Sh 2-276

Barnard's Loop (catalogue designation Sh 2-276) is an emission nebula in the constellation of Orion. It is part of the Orion molecular cloud complex which also contains the dark Horsehead and bright Orion nebulae. The loop takes the form of a large arc centered approximately on the Orion Nebula. The stars within the Orion Nebula are believed to be responsible for ionizing the loop.

The loop extends over about 600 arcminutes as seen from Earth, covering much of Orion. It is best seen in long-exposure photographs, although observers under very dark skies may be able to see it with the naked eye.

Recent estimates place it at a distance of either 159 parsecs (518 light-years) or 440 pc (1434 ly), giving it dimensions of either about 100 or 300 ly across, respectively. It is thought to have originated in a supernova explosion about 2 million years ago, which may have also created several known runaway stars, including AE Aurigae, Mu Columbae and 53 Arietis, which are believed to have been part of a multiple star system in which one component exploded as a supernova.

Although this faint nebula was certainly observed by earlier astronomers, it is named after the pioneering astrophotographer E. E. Barnard who photographed it and published a description in 1894.

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  Above photo of Barnard's Loop nebula in inverted black and white of the red channel

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  Long exposure of Orion with red clouds of ionized hydrogen (H-alpha). The big bow on the left is Barnard's Loop.

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  Barnard's Loop seen against the major stars and nebula of Orion

References

• Gaylard, M. J. (1984), "Detection of the H 142-alpha line from the Barnard Loop", Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society 211: 149–153, doi:10.1093/mnras/211.1.149 
• Reynolds, R. J.; Ogden, P. M. (1979), "Optical evidence for a very large, expanding shell associated with the I Orion OB association, Barnard's loop, and the high galactic latitude H-alpha filaments in Eridanus", Astrophysical Journal 229: 942–953, doi:10.1086/157028, Bibcode: 1979ApJ...229..942R 

External links

• Photograph identifying several nebulae in Orion
• Encyclopaedia of Astrobiology, Astronomy, and Spaceflight entry
• The Scale of the Universe (Astronomy Picture of the Day 12 March 2012)