description Sharpless 2-276 Overview
Sharpless 2-276, commonly called Barnard's Loop, is a large emission nebula forming a broad arc around much of the Orion constellation. The glowing structure consists primarily of ionized hydrogen and spans roughly ten degrees of the sky, making it far larger in apparent extent than the Orion Nebula. It is associated with the wider Orion molecular cloud complex and is best recorded through wide-field imaging, particularly with filters sensitive to hydrogen-alpha emission.
help Sharpless 2-276 FAQ
Do I need a telescope to see Barnard's Loop (Sharpless 2-276)?
Barnard's Loop is an extremely large emission nebula covering about ten degrees of the sky, but its diffuse hydrogen-alpha glow makes it invisible to the naked eye. To see it visually, astrophotographers typically use dedicated H-alpha filters and long-exposure camera setups.
Who discovered Barnard's Loop?
The nebula is named after the American astronomer E. E. Barnard, who photographed and identified the massive arc of glowing gas in the late 19th century. It was later cataloged astronomically as Sharpless 2-276 in Stewart Sharpless's 1959 catalog of H II regions.
What caused the formation of Barnard's Loop?
Astronomers believe the ionized hydrogen cloud was created by a series of supernova explosions from massive stars in the Orion OB1 association over the last few million years. The expanding shockwave from these stellar deaths interacts with surrounding interstellar material, causing it to glow red.
Where in the night sky is Sharpless 2-276 located?
Barnard's Loop forms a massive, sweeping arc that encircles much of the Orion constellation, particularly the famous Belt stars and the Orion Nebula (M42). It is best viewed and photographed during the winter months in the Northern Hemisphere when Orion is high in the sky.
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