NGC 2261

NGC 2261 is commonly known as Hubble's Variable Nebula. It is a fan-shaped reflection nebula located in the constellation Monoceros. The moniker comes from the famous astronomer Edwin Hubble, who notably studied its shifting appearance in the early 20th century.

Its shifting appearance is driven by dense clouds of dust passing close to the illuminating variable star, R Monocerotis. As the dust clouds move, they cast varying shadows and change the brightness of the nebula. This creates the illusion that the nebula itself is physically changing shape over short periods.

NGC 2261 is situated in the constellation Monoceros, which lies in the northern sky near Orion. The nebula is located approximately 2,500 light-years away from Earth. Amateur astronomers can often spot it using medium-to-large backyard telescopes.

Yes, NGC 2261 holds the historic distinction of being the first object photographed by the famous 200-inch Hale Telescope at Palomar Observatory. Edwin Hubble captured the photograph in 1949 to commemorate the massive telescope's completion. This photograph demonstrated the incredible resolving power of the new instrument.