Pipe Nebula

{{Short description|Dark nebula in the constellation Ophiuchus}}

{{Refimprove|date=December 2014}}

{{Infobox nebula

|

| image = The Pipe Nebula.jpg

|caption = Pipe Nebula (Barnard 59 is the mouthpiece)

| name = Pipe Nebula

| type = Dark

| epoch = J2000

| ra = 17^h 27^m

| dec = −26° 56′

| dist_ly = 600 to 700

| dist_pc = 180 to 220

| appmag_v = –

| size_v = Pipe Stem 300′ × 60′
Pipe Bowl 200′ × 140′

| constellation = Ophiuchus

| radius_ly = –

| absmag_v = –

| notes = –

| names = Barnard 59, 65–67, & 78;
LDN 1773; LDN 42

}}

The Pipe Nebula (also known as Barnard 59, 65–67, and 78) is a dark nebula in the Ophiuchus constellation and a part of the Dark Horse Nebula. It is a large but readily apparent smoking pipe-shaped dust lane that obscures the Milky Way star clouds behind it. Clearly visible to the naked eye in the Southern United States under clear dark skies, but it is best viewed with 7× binoculars.

The nebula has two main parts: the Pipe Stem with an opacity of 6 which is composed of Barnard 59, 65, 66, and 67 (also known as LDN 1773) 300′ x 60′ RA: 17^h 21^m Dec: −27° 23′; and the Bowl of the Pipe with an opacity of 5 which is composed of Barnard 78 (also known as LDN 42) 200′ x 140′ RA: 17^h 33^m Dec: −26° 30′.

File:CentreMilkyWayMap.png of the galactic central area, with the Pipe Nebula just above the Galactic Center.]]