Reflection Nebula vdB 31 & Dark Clouds B 26, B27, B28

vdB 31, B 26, B 27, B 28
vdB 31, B 26, B 27, B 28: Reflexionsnebel mit Dunkelwolken in Auriga; 500 mm Cassegrain 3625 mm f/7.2; SBIG STL11K; 380+3*50 min LRGB; Bernese Highlands; © 2015 Radek Chromik

History

This reflection nebula was discovered by the Canadian astronomer Sidney van den Bergh on the photographic plates of the «Palomar Observatory Sky Survey» and published as 31st object (vdB 31) in 1966 in his «Catalogue of Reflection Nebulae». [255] To the north and west of this, several dark clouds (B 26, B 27 and B 28) obscure the view of stars lying behind. These were already recorded in 1919 by the American astronomer Edward Emerson Barnard. [239]

Physical Properties

The reflection nebula vdB 31 envolves the variable star AB Aurigae (BD 30°741), a Herbig A0-A1 star surrounded by a dust disk. He is at a distance of 162.9 ± 1.5 pc. Infrared images showed the disk to have a spiral structure, indicating the formation of one or more giant planets. This is an ideal object for studying planet formation due to its close proximity and low tilt angle to the dust disk. [410]

Object data [145]
Name RA Dec
vdB 31, AB Aur 04 55 45.8 +30 33 04.3
Barnard 26 04 54 36.0 +30 37 00
Barnard 27 04 55 06.0 +30 33 00
Barnard 28 04 54 36.0 +30 37 00

Finder Chart

The reflection nebula vdb 31 with the dark clouds B 26, B 27 and B 28 is located in the constellation Auriga. The best viewing time is September to April.

Chart Reflection Nebula vdB 31  & Dark Clouds B 26, B27, B28
Reflection Nebula vdB 31 & Dark Clouds B 26, B27, B28 in constellation Auriga. Chart created using SkySafari 6 Pro and STScI Digitized Sky Survey. [149, 160]

Visual Observation

Pending ...

More Objects Nearby (±15°)

References

145SIMBAD astronomical database; simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad
149SkySafari 6 Pro, Simulation Curriculum; skysafariastronomy.com
160The STScI Digitized Sky Survey; archive.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_form
239«On the dark markings of the sky, with a catalogue of 182 such objects» Barnard, E. E.; Astrophysical Journal, 49, 1-24 (1919); DOI:10.1086/142439; Bibcode:1919ApJ....49....1B; ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1919ApJ....49....1B/abstract (2021-01-22)
255«A study of reflection nebulae» van den Bergh, S.; Astronomical Journal, Vol. 71, p. 990-998 (1966); DOI:10.1086/109995; cdsarc.unistra.fr/viz-bin/cat/VII/21 (2021-01-30)
410«Gas Accretion within the Dust Cavity in AB Aur» Pablo Rivière-Marichalar, Asunción Fuente, Clément Baruteau, Roberto Neri, Sandra P. Treviño-Morales, Andrés Carmona, Marcelino Agúndez, and Rafael Bachiller; The Astrophysical Journal Letters, Volume 879, Number 1, 2019; DOI:10.3847/2041-8213/ab289d