Rho Ophiuchi Nebulosity
Ophiuchus-Scorpius Boundary Near Antares
Object Data


Constellations:  Ophiuchus and Scorpius
Location:   Image center is approximately 1.5 degrees NW of Antares
RA = 16h26m  Dec = -25d02m  (epoch 2000)
Visual Magnitudes:  Antares is mag 0.96 and red supergiant type
M4 and IC6144 are binocular and telescopic objects
Reflection nebulae are photographic / CCD objects
Angular Dimensions:  Image field is approximately 4 x 5 degrees
Comments:  Reflection nebulae are cataloged as
   IC4603 IC4604 IC4605 IC4606
Emission nebula is cataloged as Sh2-9

  M4 is an easy object in binoculars but IC6144 can be hard to locate with a small telescope in the glare of Antares.
The emission nebula around Sigma Scorpii Sb2-9 is visible with a medium aperture telescope under dark skies. A nebula filter helps. The reflection nebulae are difficult visually even with large apertures.