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East Veil Nebula (NGC 6992)
supernova remnant in Cygnus
The Eastern Veil Nebula is a bright arc of the Cygnus Loop, the expanding shell of a star that exploded thousands of years ago. The filaments are thin and delicate, like threads of smoke, and glow in oxygen and hydrogen. The whole loop is several degrees wide, so each section is a target of its own.
Save your telescope or lens on the planner to lay your camera frame over this diagram.
// Key facts
- Catalog
- NGC 6992
- Type
- supernova remnant
- Constellation
- Cygnus
- Size
- 1.0° across
- Brightness
- Magnitude 7
- Distance
- about 2,400 light-years
- Peak month (any location)
- Aug
- Typical prime months
- May to Oct
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Filter
- OIII + Ha narrowband, or a UHC filter
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How to image East Veil Nebula
- An OIII filter is the best single filter for this target; the filaments are strong in oxygen.
- At 400 to 800 mm you can frame the eastern arc on its own, or include the nearby western arc (NGC 6960) in a wide field.
- The fine threads show best on nights when the air is steady.
Framing: what focal length?
The focal length at which NGC 6992 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 450 mm |
| APS-C (23.5 mm) | about 810 mm |
| Full frame (36 mm) | about 1240 mm |
How high does it climb from your latitude?
The highest point NGC 6992 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) | 67° | High in the sky |
| 45°N (Minneapolis, Milan) | 77° | High in the sky |
| 35°N (Los Angeles, Tokyo) | 87° | High in the sky |
| 25°N (Miami, Cairo) | 83° | High in the sky |
| 35°S (Sydney, Santiago) | 23° | Stays low |
Also worth imaging
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