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IC 1287 — Reflection Nebula in Scutum

Reflection Nebula Excellent (63/100)
Magnitude 6.1m ReflectionNebula Scutum (Sct) Visible
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1Properties

Magnitude 6.10
Angular Size 20.0′ × 10.0′
*5.5 in L, E neb

Position & Identifiers

RA 18h 31m 25.7s
Dec -10° 47' 44.9"
Constellation Scutum (Sct)
Catalog IC 1287

2How easy to spot?

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Telescope Bortle 3 Bortle 4 Bortle 5
80mm refr. Medium+ Medium+ Medium+
150mm Newt. Medium+ Medium+ Medium+
C8 203mm Medium+ Medium+ Medium+
Easy Medium Hard Very hard Impossible

Bortle 3 = rural · 4 = outer suburbs · 5 = suburbs

Easy on Seestar S50

3Visibility

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Best season May – Jul (peak: Jun)

4 Filter Response Guide

5 Eyepiece View

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125x TFOV: 0.4° Lim. mag: 13.6
N E

IC 1287 · 20.0′×10.0′ · N up, E left

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6 Surface Brightness

Nearby in the Sky

Other targets within a few degrees — pan your scope a little and keep exploring.

Visibility scores assume a 150 mm Newton at Bortle 4.

NGC 6649
Easy
Open cluster
Open Cluster mag 8.9 0.6° Scutum
M16
Eagle Nebula
Medium+
Emission nebula — try an OIII filter
Emission Nebula mag 6.4 4.3° Serpens
S Sct
Medium
Semi-regular variable, range 6.6–7.3
Variable Star mag 6.80 5.5° Scutum
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