Object Description

The reflection nebula IC 4604 (LBN 1111) belongs together with IC 4603, IC 4605, the Antares nebula vdB 107, Sharpless 2-9 and many dark clouds to a large area of nebula, the Ophiuchus Molecular Cloud. Its center is about one degree south of the star ρ Ophiuchi, is surrounded by dense dust and is only visible in infrared images. The IC numbers were discovered in 1882 by the American astronomer Edward Barnard, who also recorded the dark clouds B 42, B 44 and B 45. ^{[196, 239, 270, 277]}

The Ophiuchus Molecular Cloud, also called Rho Ophiuchus Cloud, is an area with active star formation, which is one of the closest to us at a distance of only about 407 light years. X-ray and infrared observations revealed more than 300 young stars within the large cloud in the center. The age of these stars is estimated to be only 300,000 years - very young compared to the oldest stars in the universe, which are more than twelve billion years old. ^[460]

Finder Chart

The nebula IC 4604 is located in the constellation Ophiuchus (Serpent Bearer) and as the name «Rho Ophiuchi nebula» suggests at the 5 mag star ρ Ophiuchi, around three degrees north of the bright star Antares (α Scorpii) in the constellation Scorpius (Scorpio). The best observation time is March to August.