This combination reflection and emission nebula is located 2700 light years away in the constellation of Monoceros at a declination of +7 degrees.  It spans 15 arc-minutes in our apparent view.  This corresponds to a width of 12 light years.

This is one of about 20 vdB objects that also have a NGC or IC designation.  This asymmetric nebula surrounds the bright 4.5 magnitude bluish source star 13 Mon.   

I love the crazy interplay between the blue reflection component and red emission component.   The emission is part of a faint emission swath that extends from the Rosette Nebula (NGC 2237 - 2 degrees to the south) up to the Cone Nebula (NGC 2264 - 3 degrees to the north).

Sidney van den Bergh published his vdB catalog of reflection nebulae in 1966. It was later expanded by one for a total of 159. The collection encompassed all reflection nebulosity visible on the Palomar Sky Survey north of -33 degrees latitude.  My Astrobin vdB Collection, which is about 90% complete, is here.

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A number of you have inquired about my reduced presence on Astrobin the past few weeks.  A number of factors have been involved, both good (vacations, grandkids, helping my wife publish her children's book, selecting the winners of my Astro scholarship) and bad (storms, health issues). 

Most notable in the latter category was my experience while clearing large trees at my daughter's home in Houston.  While working up on a ladder, a massive tree fell unexpectedly and knocked me backwards down to the paved path below while also hitting the brick wall of the house on the way down.  I was bruised and bloodied and in rough shape for a few days, but the doctor said yesterday that (amazingly) nothing was broken or torn, it will just take time for things to return to normal.  Well, I am 62 years old, so not quite "normal", but good enough! 

It is nice to know that I was missed here.  Hopefully I will heal quick enough to soon be able to resume setting up my scope, if clear skies ever return.