Barnard's Loop (catalogue designation Sh 2-276) is an emission nebula in the constellation of Orion. It is part of the Orion–Eridanus Superbubble, which itself belongs to the Orion molecular cloud complex. The loop takes the form of a large arc centered roughly on the dark Horsehead and the bright Orion Nebula, whose stars are believed to be responsible for ionizing the loop.

The loop extends over about 10° as seen from Earth, covering much of Orion. It is best seen in long-exposure photographs, although observers under very dark skies may be able to see it with the naked eye.

It is about away and in length. It is thought to have originated in a supernova explosion about 2 million years ago, which may have also created several known runaway stars, including AE Aurigae, Mu Columbae and 53 Arietis, which are believed to have been part of a multiple star system in which one component exploded as a supernova.

Although this faint nebula was certainly observed by earlier astronomers, it is named after the pioneering astrophotographer E. E. Barnard who photographed it and published a description in 1894.

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Image:Nebula-Barnard's-Loop.jpeg|Long exposure of Orion with red clouds of ionized hydrogen (H-alpha). The big bow on the left is Barnard's Loop.

Image:Nebula-Barnard's-Loop-bw-inverse.jpeg|Previous photo of Barnard's Loop nebula in inverted black and white of the red channel

Image:Orion Head to Toe.jpg|Barnard's Loop seen against the major stars and nebula of Orion

Image:Orion–Eridanus Superbubble in H-alpha and continuum.jpg|Barnard's Loop (mostly orange) as a part of the Orion–Eridanus Superbubble, imaged by the Northern Sky Narrowband Survey.

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References

  • Photograph identifying several nebulae in Orion
  • Encyclopaedia of Astrobiology, Astronomy, and Spaceflight entry
  • The Scale of the Universe (Astronomy Picture of the Day March 12, 2012)