DR 6

DR 6
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
Right ascension20h 27m 13.1s[1]
Declination+39° 26′ 08″[1]
Apparent dimensions (V)3.7′ × 2.9′[1]
Physical characteristics
Other designations"Galactic Ghoul"[2]
Associations
ConstellationCygnus
See also: Open cluster, List of open clusters

DR 6 is a cluster of stars in the Milky Way galaxy, composed of dust, gas, and about 10 large newborn stars, each roughly ten to twenty times the size of the Sun.[3] It was discovered by astronomers at NASA with the Spitzer Space Telescope, viewing the nebula using infrared light.[2][3]

The areas of the cluster that appear green are mainly composed of gas, while the parts that seem to be red are made of dust.[3]

The DR 6 nebula is located about 3,900 light-years away in the constellation Cygnus. The center of the nebula, where the ten stars are located, is roughly 3.5 light-years long,[4] roughly equivalent to the distance between the Sun and Alpha Centauri, the closest star to the Sun.[3]

  1. ^ a b c "DR 6". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
  2. ^ a b Wilson, Jim; Dunbar, Brian (2008-07-26). "Spitzer Spies 'Galactic Ghoul'". NASA. Retrieved 2008-10-23.
  3. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference space was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference NASA2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).