From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Merope Nebula

Observation data: J2000 epoch
Type: Reflection
Right ascension: 03h 46m
Declination: +23° 54′[1]
Distance: 0.44 kly (0.13 kpc)
Apparent magnitude (V): 13
Apparent dimensions (V): 30′
Constellation: Taurus
Physical characteristics
Radius: 2 ly
Absolute magnitude (V): 8
Notable features: In Pleiades; contains IC 349
Other designations: NGC 1435, Merope Nebula, Tempel's Nebula


The Merope Nebula (also known as Tempel's Nebula, or NGC 1435) is a diffuse reflection nebula, possibly a supernova remnant in the Pleiades star cluster, surrounding the star Merope. It was discovered on October 19, 1859 by the German astronomer Wilhelm Tempel. John Herschel, in his New General Catalog (NGC), described it as a very faint nebula about Merope about the size of the full moon.

The Merope Nebula has an apparent magnitude of 13. It is illuminated entirely by the star Merope, which is embedded in the nebula. It contains a bright knot, IC 349, about half an arcminute wide near Merope. It appears blue in photographs because of the fine carbon dust spread throughout the cloud. Though it was once thought the Pleiades formed from this and surrounding nebulas, it is known that the Pleiades nebulosity is caused by a chance encounter with the cloud.