Galactic Nebula Sh 2-60
History
Edward. E. Barnard found on photographs he made that dark markings in the sky were not always caused by a void of stars but by a dark opaque nebulae. He published his catalogue of 182 such «Dark Markings in the Sky» in 1919 where this nebula was listed as number 103 with the notes: «Irregular; diametre 4'; one small star in it.» [239] After Barnard's death in 1923 the «Photographic Atlas of Selected Regions of the Milky Way» was published in 1927. Nebula Barnard 103 is shown on plates 36 and 37 with additional notes: «Apparently a real object, the south of several dark markings covering a space 45 in diameter. They form a notched outline to the northwest side of the large star cloud in Scutum.» [609]
The American astronomer Stewart Sharpless searched in the 1950-ies the photo plates of the «Palomar Observatory Sky Survey» made with the 48 inch Schmidt telescope and published it in 1959 a catalogue of 313 H-II regions, among them Sh 2-60. [310]
In 1962 Beverly T. Lynds published a compilation of 1802 nebula in her «Catalogue of Dark Nebulae» that she found on photo plates of the «National Geographic Palomar Observatory Sky Atlas». She listed Barnard 103 as LDN 497 [473] In her «Catalogue of Bright Nebulae» published in 1965 she listed the nebula Sh 2-60 as LBN 025.36+00.24 (LBN 82). [270]
Physical Properties
This region contains hydrogen-alpha emitting nebulae, dark molecular clouds and young, massive O- and B-type stars. These colliding clouds trigger star formation. Infrared images show many bubble-, ring- and shell-like structures that expand into surrounding environment. The estimated distance of these nebulae is approximately 3 kpc. [760]
| Name | Type | RA (J2000.0) | Dec (J2000.0) | Size ['] | Identifiers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sh 2-60 | HII | 18h 36m 42s | -06° 37' 28" | BBW 35201; LBN 025.36+00.24; LBN 82; RCW 173; SH 2-60 | |
| LDN 485 | DNe | 18h 36m 42s | -06° 57' 00" | 49 × 49 | LDN 485; [DB2002b] G25.06+0.09 |
| LDN 494 | DNe | 18h 37m 00s | -06° 27' 00" | 7 × 7 | LDN 494; [DB2002b] G25.54+0.25 |
| LDN 495 | DNe | 18h 38m 58s | -06° 44' 00" | 2.5 × 1.5 | LDN 495; [DB2002b] G25.52-0.31 |
| LDN 497 | DNe | 18h 39m 11s | -06° 37' 15" | 7.8 × 10.2 | Barnard 103; LDN 497; TGU H231 P4 |
| LDN 498 | DNe | 18h 40m 11s | -06° 40' 48" | LDN 498 |
Finder Chart
The nebula Sh 2-60 is located in the constellation Scutum. On 1 July it is in opposition with the Sun and is therefore highest in the sky at local midnight.
