The Northern Trifid Nebula

The Northern Trifid Nebula (also known as NGC 1579, Ced 35, Sh2-222, and LBN 767) is a diffuse nebula and a star forming region, located at a distance of around 2,400 light years in the constellation of Perseus. It was discovered on the 27th of December 1788 by William Herschel.

The nebula is part of a giant molecular cloud known as California Molecular Cloud, and it has been nicknamed the Northern Trifid, due to its resemblance with the famous Trifid Nebula.

Responsible for powering the nebula is an emission line star known as LkHα 101. This is a young star and its emission is responsible for creating a mixture of reflection/emission nebula. The age of the star has been estimated at 500,000 years. Additionally,  five more stars have been detected in the region with a similar age.

Image: Composite optical image of the Northern Trifid Nebula taken with the 12" Astrograph of the Irida Observatory in southern Bulgaria. The image was created using broadband filters (Blue, Green, and Red).

Image Credit: Velimir Popov & Emil Ivanov 

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