NGC 7380 - Wizard Nebula

The Wizard Nebula, generally known under the designation NGC 7380, is an extended emission nebula in the constellation Cepheus at the outer edge of the Perseus Arm. At a distance of approximately 7,000 to 9,000 light-years and with a diameter of around 100 light-years, it belongs to an active star-forming region. Strictly speaking, NGC 7380 refers to the young open star cluster at the center of the region, while the surrounding glowing gas forms the emission nebula Sh2-142. In astronomical practice, the entire complex of cluster and nebula is often referred to collectively as NGC 7380. The nebular gas is primarily ionized by the intense ultraviolet radiation of the massive binary star DH Cephei, which is the dominant energy source of the region.

The Wizard Nebula owes its name to its striking structures of glowing gas and dark dust. In astrophotographs, the silhouette is reminiscent of both a wizard and the face of an old man.

The nebula is particularly well observed in narrowband imaging, as the hydrogen H-alpha emission makes the intricate gas structures most clearly visible

Shooting Data