Your deep sky companionYour deep sky imaging companion
Spaghetti Nebula (Sh2-240)
supernova remnant in Taurus
The Spaghetti Nebula (Simeis 147) is a huge, extremely faint supernova remnant spanning about three degrees across Taurus and Auriga. Its delicate filaments look like strands of spaghetti. It is one of the faintest targets in the catalog and a challenge for even good skies.
Save your telescope or lens on the planner to lay your camera frame over this diagram.
// Key facts
- Catalog
- Sh2-240
- Also known as
- Sharpless 240, Simeis 147, Sh 2-240
- Type
- supernova remnant
- Constellation
- Taurus
- Size
- 3.0° across
- Brightness
- Magnitude 12
- Distance
- about 3,000 light-years
- Peak month (any location)
- Dec
- Typical prime months
- Sep to Feb
- Difficulty
- Advanced
- Filter
- OIII + Ha narrowband (a very faint supernova remnant)
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 Spaghetti Nebula
- Use 150 to 300 mm; it spans about 3 degrees.
- Narrowband is required, with OIII and Ha; plan for a lot of hours.
- Dark skies and careful flats matter, as gradients can hide the filaments.
Framing: what focal length?
The focal length at which Sh2-240 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 150 mm |
| APS-C (23.5 mm) | about 270 mm |
| Full frame (36 mm) | about 410 mm |
How high does it climb from your latitude?
The highest point Sh2-240 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) | 63° | High in the sky |
| 45°N (Minneapolis, Milan) | 73° | High in the sky |
| 35°N (Los Angeles, Tokyo) | 83° | High in the sky |
| 25°N (Miami, Cairo) | 87° | High in the sky |
| 35°S (Sydney, Santiago) | 27° | Stays low |
Also worth imaging
Want a GO / NO-GO verdict for tonight, with clouds, moon, seeing and a full dark-window timeline?
Open the planner