[BAA-ebulletin 01019] McNeil’s Nebula disappears

[BAA electronic bulletins service]

Mike Harlow (Orwell Astronomical Society Ipswich) reports that
McNeil’s nebula in Orion has disappeared from view on an image taken
using the University of Iowa’s 500mm Gemini telescope on 2018 November
5th. This observation was followed up by Nick Hewitt (Northampton, UK)
using iTelescope 24 (a 610mm CDK Planewave reflector at Sierra Remote
telescope, California, USA) on 2018 November 6th at 0920 ut and this
confirmed the absence.

McNeil’s nebula is a variable nebula near Messier 78 in Orion. It was
discovered by Jay McNeil on 2004 January 23rd and observed fairly
frequently by a small number of UK observers since. It is associated
with V1647 Orionis.  It is at RA 05:46:14 and Dec -00:05.8°.

Since discovery, it has varied in brightness but never vanished
altogether. It has presumably been obscured by associated gas and dust
from the molecular cloud. If any observers have recent images of
Messier 78 or its immediate surrounds, please forward to
nickdhewitt at btinternet.com. This is an area to watch over the winter.

Images and finder chart can be found at: https://britastro.org/node/16309

Dr Nick Hewitt
Variable nebula coordinator
Deep Sky Section, BAA