description Barnard 142 Overview
Barnard 142 is a dark emission nebula located within the Aquila constellation. It’s notable for its distinctive hourglass shape formed by glowing dust and gas ejected from a dying star. Astronomers and amateur observers study it to understand stellar evolution and the processes of planetary nebula formation. Its appearance contributes to the broader view of our galaxy's structure.
help Barnard 142 FAQ
Is Barnard 142 an emission nebula or a dark nebula?
Barnard 142 is a dark nebula, meaning its dust blocks light from the dense background stars of the Milky Way. It does not glow like an emission nebula and is not material ejected by a dying star.
What is the E Nebula formed by Barnard 142 and Barnard 143?
Barnard 142 and nearby Barnard 143 create adjoining dark lanes that resemble a capital letter E in wide-field images. The pair lies in Aquila against a bright Milky Way star field.
Can Barnard 142 be seen through a small telescope?
It can be detected from a dark site with binoculars or a small, wide-field telescope as a star-poor patch rather than a luminous cloud. Dark adaptation and low magnification matter more than very high magnification.
How did Barnard 142 get its catalog number?
The B designation comes from astronomer Edward Emerson Barnard's catalog of dark markings in the sky. Barnard compiled photographic observations of these obscuring clouds in the early 20th century.
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