NGC 261

{{Short description|Diffuse nebula in the constellation Tucana}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2016}}

{{Infobox nebula

| name = NGC 261

| image = NGC 261.png

| caption = NGC 261

| epoch = J2000

| ra = {{RA|00|46|27.9}}{{cite web

| title=NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database

| work=Results for NGC 0261

| url=http://ned.ipac.caltech.edu/cgi-bin/objsearch?objname=NGC+261&extend=no&hconst=73&omegam=0.27&omegav=0.73&corr_z=1&out_csys=Equatorial&out_equinox=J2000.0&obj_sort=RA+or+Longitude&of=pre_text&zv_breaker=30000.0&list_limit=5&img_stamp=YES

| access-date=September 2, 2016}}

| dec = {{DEC|-73|06|13}}

| constellation = Tucana

| dist_ly =

| type = diffuse

| appmag_v =

| size_v = 1.3' × 1.1'{{cite simbad|title=NGC 261}}

| notes =

| names = ESO 029-EN 012, IRAS 00447-7322

}}

NGC 261 is a diffuse nebula located in the constellation Tucana. It was discovered on September 5, 1826, by James Dunlop.{{cite web|title=New General Catalog Objects: NGC 200 - 249|url=http://cseligman.com/text/atlas/ngc2a.htm#261|publisher=Cseligman|access-date=September 28, 2016}}