Your deep sky companionYour deep sky imaging companion
Barnard's E (B 143)
dark nebula in Aquila
Barnard's E is a pair of dark nebulae, Barnard 142 and 143, in Aquila. Together they form a large dark E-shape that stands out against the Milky Way's rich star field. It is a fine widefield target for a lens or short refractor.
Save your telescope or lens on the planner to lay your camera frame over this diagram.
// Key facts
- Catalog
- B 143
- Also known as
- Barnard 143, B 142, Barnard 142
- Type
- dark nebula
- Constellation
- Aquila
- Size
- 50′ across
- Distance
- roughly 2,000 light-years
- Peak month (any location)
- Jul
- Typical prime months
- May to Sep
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Filter
- No filter (broadband); a UV/IR-cut or L filter, shot against a rich star field
Pick a saved location or share your device location. Your coordinates are used only to calculate tonight and are not stored. To save locations, use the planner.
How to image Barnard's E
- Use 150 to 400 mm; it spans about 50 arcminutes.
- Dark nebulae show best against a dense star field, so shoot on moonless nights and use a clean luminance.
- It is bright enough to see with modest equipment, but is mostly a wide-field target.
Framing: what focal length?
The focal length at which B 143 spans about 60% of the long side of the sensor, leaving room around it. Treat it as a starting point; the right framing is a matter of taste.
| Sensor | Focal length |
|---|---|
| 1-inch sensor (13.2 mm) | about 540 mm |
| APS-C (23.5 mm) | about 970 mm |
| Full frame (36 mm) | about 1490 mm |
How high does it climb from your latitude?
The highest point B 143 reaches in the sky. Above about 60° is excellent, 30° to 60° is workable, and under 30° you are looking through a lot of air.
| Latitude | Highest point | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 55°N (Scotland, Alaska) | 46° | Workable |
| 45°N (Minneapolis, Milan) | 56° | Workable |
| 35°N (Los Angeles, Tokyo) | 66° | High in the sky |
| 25°N (Miami, Cairo) | 76° | High in the sky |
| 35°S (Sydney, Santiago) | 44° | Workable |
Also worth imaging
Want a GO / NO-GO verdict for tonight, with clouds, moon, seeing and a full dark-window timeline?
Open the planner