Tarantula Nebula (NGC 2070)
Physical Properties
| Name | RA | Dec | Type | bMag | vMag | Dim | MD | Dreyer Description | Identification, Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NGC 2033 | 05 34 30.6 | -69 46 48 | OCL | 11.6 | 0.5 | 49.970 | Cl, in Nubec major | h (579); GC 1236; ESO 56-SC157; in LMC | |
| NGC 2037 | 05 34 54.0 | -69 44 12 | OCL | 10.3 | 0.5 | 49.970 | Cl, in Nubec major | h (593); GC 1240; ESO 56-SC159; in N 2033 | |
| NGC 2042 | 05 36 09.6 | -68 55 25 | OCL | 9.8 | 9.6 | 9 | 49.970 | Cl, vL, Ri, st 12…15 | h 2922; GC 1245; ESO 56-SC163; in LMC |
| NGC 2044 | 05 36 06.0 | -69 11 55 | OCL | 10.7 | 10.6 | 2 | 49.970 | Cl, in Nubec major | h (608); GC 1246; ESO 56-SC165; in LMC |
| NGC 2048 | 05 35 55.4 | -69 38 58 | EN+* | 0.5 | 49.970 | vF, L, pmE | h 2926; GC 1250; ESO 56-*N166; in LMC | ||
| NGC 2050 | 05 36 38.9 | -69 23 01 | OCL | 9.5 | 9.3 | 1 | 49.970 | Cl + neb, mC, iF, st vS | h 2928; GC 1252; ESO 56-SC170; in LMC |
| NGC 2055 | 05 37 03.0 | -69 25 54 | OCL | 8.5 | 8.4 | 0.6 | 49.970 | Cl, vL, Ri, st 10…15 | h 2931; GC 1256; ESO 56-SC171; in LMC |
| NGC 2060 | 05 37 51.6 | -69 10 23 | SNR | 9.7 | 9.6 | 49.970 | neb, no descrip, in Nub maj | h (642); GC 1261; ESO 57-EN1; in LMC | |
| NGC 2069 | 05 38 40.0 | -69 00 18 | EN | 49.970 | F, L, E | h 2940; GC 1268; ESO 57-EN7; part of N 2070; in LMC | |||
| NGC 2070 | 05 38 42.5 | -69 06 03 | EN | 5.0 | 30 × 20 | 49.970 | !!! vB, vL, looped | h 2941; GC 1269; ESO 57-EN6; Tarantula nebula (30 Dor); in LMC | |
| NGC 2074 | 05 39 03.6 | -69 29 53 | EN | 8.5 | 49.970 | pB, pL, mE, 5 st inv | h 2942; GC 1272; ESO 57-EN8; in LMC, part of N 2070 | ||
| NGC 2077 | 05 39 36.0 | -69 39 26 | EN | 15 × 15 | 49.970 | F, R, p of D neb | h 2947; GC 1275; ESO 57-EN9; in LMC | ||
| NGC 2078 | 05 39 39.3 | -69 44 38 | EN | 49.970 | neb, np of gr of 7 | h 2948; GC 1276; ESO 57-EN10; in N 2079 group; in LMC | |||
| NGC 2079 | 05 39 40.0 | -69 46 26 | EN | 49.970 | neb, sp of gr of 7 | h 2949; GC 1277; ESO 57-EN11; in LMC | |||
| NGC 2080 | 05 39 44.2 | -69 38 44 | EN | 49.970 | B, R, f of D neb | h 2950; GC 1278; ESO 57-EN12; in LMC | |||
| NGC 2081 | 05 39 59.5 | -69 24 21 | OCL (OCL+EN) | 49.970 | Cl, vF, mC, st + neb | h 2951; GC 1279; ESO 57-SC13; in LMC | |||
| NGC 2083 | 05 39 59.3 | -69 44 16 | EN | 49.970 | neb, nf of gr of 7 | h 2952; GC 1281; ESO 57-EN14; in N 2079 group; in LMC | |||
| NGC 2084 | 05 40 07.1 | -69 45 34 | EN | 49.970 | neb, sf of gr of 7 | h 2953; GC 1282; ESO 57-EN15; in N 2079 group; in LMC | |||
| NGC 2085 | 05 40 09.0 | -69 40 24 | EN | 49.970 | vF, R, * 10 v nr | h 2954; GC 1283; ESO 57-EN16; in LMC | |||
| NGC 2086 | 05 40 13.0 | -69 40 05 | EN | 49.970 | B, pS, R, lbM, * 10 p | h 2956; GC 1284; ESO 57-EN17; in LMC | |||
| NGC 2088 | 05 40 59.9 | -68 27 56 | OCL | 12.8 | 12.5 | 1.7 | 49.970 | vF, S, R | h 2955; GC 1286; ESO 57-SC20; in LMC |
| NGC 2091 | 05 40 58.1 | -69 26 14 | OCL | 12.4 | 12.1 | 1.7 | 49.970 | vF, S, mE, glbM, ? D | h 2957; GC 1289; ESO 57-SC21; in LMC |
| NGC 2092 | 05 41 22.1 | -69 13 27 | OCL | 1.2 | 49.970 | vF, pL, R, rr | h 2962; GC 1290; ESO 57-SC22; in LMC | ||
| NGC 2093 | 05 41 49.8 | -68 55 17 | OCL | 11.9 | 11.6 | 1.7 | 49.970 | vF, S, R | h 2963; GC 1291; ESO 57-SC23; in LMC |
| NGC 2094 | 05 42 08.0 | -68 21 48 | OCL | 49.970 | vF, S, R | h 2959; GC 1292; ESO 57-SC26; in LMC | |||
| NGC 2096 | 05 42 17.9 | -68 27 31 | OCL | 11.8 | 11.3 | 1.2 | 49.970 | neb, no descrip, in Nub major | h (725); GC 1294; ESO 57-SC27; in LMC |
| NGC 2098 | 05 42 30.4 | -68 16 32 | OCL | 10.9 | 10.7 | 1.6 | 49.970 | globular, B, S, rr | h 2965; GC 1297; ESO 57-SC28; in LMC |
| NGC 2100 | 05 42 09.1 | -69 12 43 | OCL | 9.6 | 2.8 | 49.970 | globular, B, pL, irrR, rr | h 2966; GC 1298; ESO 57-SC25; in LMC | |
| NGC 2102 | 05 42 20.6 | -69 29 14 | OCL | 11.4 | 1 | 49.970 | neb, no descrip, in Nub maj | h (730); GC 1300; ESO 57-SC29; in LMC | |
| NGC 2108 | 05 43 55.3 | -69 10 51 | OCL | 12.9 | 12.8 | 2 | 49.970 | eF, pL, lE | h 2970; GC 1306; ESO 57-SC33; in LMC |
| NGC 2109 | 05 44 23.0 | -68 32 52 | OCL | 12.6 | 12.2 | 2 | 49.970 | F, pS, R, vglbM | h 2972; GC 1307; ESO 57-SC34; in LMC |
| NGC 2113 | 05 45 24.6 | -69 46 27 | OCL (OCL+EN) | 12.3 | 1.8 | 49.970 | Cl, F, S, iF, vlC, rr | h 2975; GC 1311; ESO 57-EN36; in LMC | |
| NGC 2116 | 05 47 15.2 | -68 30 29 | OCL | 13.2 | 12.9 | 1 | 49.970 | F, S, R, * 11 p | h 2977; GC 1314; ESO 57-SC38; in LMC |
| NGC 2118 | 05 47 39.6 | -69 07 55 | OCL | 12.0 | 1.3 | 49.970 | globular, vB, vS, vsmbM, rr | h 2979; GC 1316; ESO 57-SC39; in LMC |
Finder Chart
The Tarantula Nebula can be found in the Large Magellanic Cloud, which northern part is located in the constellation Dorado and the southern part is in Mensa. Unfortunately it is not visible from Europe. On 18 December it in opposition with the Sun and is therefore highest in the sky at local midnight.
Visual Observation
635 mm Aperture: One could spend an eternity wandering around and following all glowing filaments and patches that spread out from the Tarantula Nebula into the Large Magellanic Cloud. It resembles a bit the well known Cirrus Nebula, but much larger and more complex. It also appears much brighter, although it is much further away in our neighbouring galaxy. Maybe that was also caused due to the low light pollution in Namibia. There at most, the zodiacal light after sunset or the rising Venus in the morning was a disturbance. — 25" f/4 Obession Dobsonian, Astrofarm Tivoli, Namibia, September 2023, Bernd Nies