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Barnard 143

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description Barnard 143 Overview

Barnard 143 is a dark emission nebula located within the Aquila constellation. It’s notable for creating a striking silhouette against the Milky Way due to its dense dust clouds. Astronomers and amateur observers study this region to understand star formation processes and the interaction of gas, dust, and young stars.

help Barnard 143 FAQ

Why does Barnard 143 look like a hole in the Milky Way?

Barnard 143 is a cloud of cold gas and dust that blocks visible light from background stars. It is therefore a dark absorption nebula, not an empty region or a conventional glowing emission nebula.

Is Barnard 143 the same object as Barnard's E?

Barnard 143 forms the darker northern portion of Barnard's E, while Barnard 142 lies immediately south. Together their dark bars resemble a large letter E against Aquila's star-rich Milky Way.

How can I find Barnard 143 in the night sky?

Look in Aquila near Tarazed, also called Gamma Aquilae, just north of Altair. Barnard's E lies roughly 1.5 to 1.6 degrees west-northwest of Tarazed and is best seen under a genuinely dark sky.

Can Barnard 143 be seen with binoculars?

Yes, binoculars or a small telescope at low magnification can reveal it as a starless silhouette under dark summer skies. A wide field is useful because Barnard 142 and 143 together span about the apparent width of the full Moon.

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