| DR 6 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Observation data (J2000epoch) | |
| Right ascension | 20h 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 | |
| Constellation | Cygnus |
| See also:Open cluster,List of open clusters | |
DR 6 is astar forming region in theMilky Way galaxy. Thenebula includes a cluster of about 10 large newbornstars, each roughly ten to twenty times the size of theSun.[3] It was discovered by astronomers atNASA with theSpitzer Space Telescope, viewing the nebula usinginfrared light.[2][3]
The DR 6 nebula is located about 3,900light-years away in the constellationCygnus. 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 theSun andAlpha Centauri, the closest star to the Sun. The areas of the nebula that appear green are mainly composed of gas, while the parts that seem to be red are made ofdust.[3]
The DR 6 nebula is nicknamed the "Galactic Ghoul" because of its resemblance to a human face;[4] astronomers have described it as "some sort of freakish space face," emphasizing the cavity-like regions that look like eyes and a mouth.[3] These large cavities are the result of "energetic light" and strongstellar wind that come from the ten stars in the center of the nebula (the part also known as the "nose").[4]
Because of the nebula's spooky appearance, it was featured on theNASA website as the Astronomy Picture of the Day onAll Hallows Eve, November 1, 2004.[4]
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