When is the best time to observe Caldwell 33?

Caldwell 33 is best observed from June through August, with peak visibility during July when it transits around midnight in the Northern Hemisphere.

Where is Caldwell 33 located in the sky?

Caldwell 33 lies in the constellation Cygnus at right ascension 20h 56m and declination +31° 45′.

What telescope do I need to see Caldwell 33?

At magnitude 7.0, Caldwell 33 is easy in 7×50 or 10×50 binoculars.

Caldwell 33 — Supernova Remnant in Cygnus

NGC 6992

Supernova Remnant Excellent (64/100)

Magnitude 7.0^m SupernovaRemnant Cygnus Visible

Credit: Ken Crawford. License: CC BY-SA 3.0. (Wikimedia Commons)

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About East Veil Nebula

Description

The Eastern Veil Nebula (NGC 6992/6995) is part of the Veil Nebula supernova remnant in Cygnus, about 2,400 light-years away. This filamentary arc marks the eastern edge of the expanding shell from a supernova that exploded roughly 20,000 years ago.

Observing Tips

An OIII filter transforms this from invisible to spectacular. With the filter and an 8-inch scope, the delicate filaments are breathtaking. Even a 4-inch scope shows the bright knotted arc near 52 Cygni (that's C34). Best in summer and early autumn.

History

Discovered by William Herschel on September 5, 1784. The entire Veil Nebula complex (also called the Cygnus Loop) is one of the finest supernova remnants visible from Earth.

Fun Facts

The original supernova that created the Veil was likely a star 20 times more massive than the Sun. The expanding shell is still moving at about 170 km/s and will continue to fade over the next 100,000 years.