Planetary nebula · Gemini
NGC 2371 Gemini Nebula
Also known as: NGC 2372
mag 11.22.2′ across
About
NGC 2371, the Gemini Nebula, is a planetary nebula of magnitude 11.2 in Gemini, about 2.2′ across.
How to find it
- NGC 2371 is in the constellation Gemini.
- Best evenings: around late February it is highest at about 9 pm (10 pm in summer time); a month earlier, two hours later.
- Where on Earth: it is seen well, at least 10° up, from north of 51° S.
When it rises and sets tonight, how high it climbs and how much the Moon gets in the way are worked out in your browser for your place.
What you will see
- EyesNot visible to the naked eye.
- Binoculars (10×50)Too faint for binoculars.
- Telescope (6–8 inch)A faint round glow — a UHC or OIII filter makes it much easier.
For a dark country sky with no Moon. From a city, faint galaxies and nebulae can disappear completely.
Facts
| Designations | NGC 2371, NGC 2372, PN G189.1+19.8 |
|---|---|
| Type | Planetary nebula |
| Magnitude | 11.2The smaller the number, the brighter. |
| Apparent size | 2.2′ × 1′position angle 125°; the full Moon is 31′ across |
| Surface brightness | ≈ 20.7 mag/arcsec²Estimate from the magnitude and size, per square arcsecond. |
| Constellation | Gemini |
| Right ascension (J2000) | 07h 25m 34.7s |
| Declination (J2000) | +29° 29′ 26″ |
Sources and credits
Catalog data: OpenNGC by Mattia Verga, CC BY-SA 4.0, and d3-celestial by Olaf Frohn, BSD 3-Clause. All data sources →