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Pickering's Triangle (NGC 6979)

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description Pickering's Triangle (NGC 6979) Overview

Pickering's Triangle, designated as NGC 6979, is a portion of the Cygnus Loop, a large supernova remnant in the constellation Cygnus. The filamentary structure was discovered photographically in 1904 by astronomer Williamina Fleming at the Harvard College Observatory under the direction of Edward Charles Pickering. The Triangle appears as wispy filaments of glowing gas when photographed through telescopes, with emissions primarily from ionized hydrogen and oxygen. These filaments represent the expanding edge of a shock wave from a supernova explosion that occurred approximately 8,000 years ago.

help Pickering's Triangle (NGC 6979) FAQ

Where is Pickering's Triangle located in the night sky?

Pickering's Triangle, designated as NGC 6979, is located in the northern constellation of Cygnus. It is a portion of the Cygnus Loop, which is a large supernova remnant located roughly 2,400 light-years away from Earth.

How did Pickering's Triangle get its name?

The nebula was discovered photographically in 1904 by astronomer Williamina Fleming at the Harvard College Observatory. It was named in honor of the observatory's director, Edward Charles Pickering, following the era's convention of crediting the director.

What exactly is Pickering's Triangle?

Pickering's Triangle is a filamentary cloud of gas and dust formed by a massive stellar explosion thousands of years ago. The filaments glow because shock waves from the supernova are still colliding with and heating up the surrounding interstellar medium.

Can you see Pickering's Triangle with a standard backyard telescope?

Pickering's Triangle is extremely faint and difficult to observe visually, even with large amateur telescopes. Astrophotographers are usually required to capture its delicate structure using long exposures and specialized narrowband filters that isolate the glowing gases.

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