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Reflection nebula · Scutum

IC 1287

Deep skyIC 1287

Scientific overview

IC 1287 is a reflection nebula in the constellation Scutum. It shines at apparent magnitude 6.1 and spans about 20 arcminutes of sky.

Observation guide

Difficulty
Binoculars
Recommended equipment
10×50 binoculars or any small telescope
Best observed
Summer (evening sky)
Best hemisphere
Both (equatorial)

Guidance follows standard observing practice, derived from the object's real magnitude and position. A dark, moonless sky always helps.

Location in the sky

Constellation
Scutum
RA / Dec
18.5238h / -10.7958°
Hemisphere
Both
Season
Summer

Precision measurements

Distances and velocities from SIMBAD · IC 1287

Right ascension (ICRS)278 degSIMBAD · measured
Declination (ICRS)-10.8 degSIMBAD · measured
Full field-level provenance
  • Right ascension (ICRS): Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · basic · ra · direct catalogue measurement · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Declination (ICRS): Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · basic · dec · direct catalogue measurement · retrieved 2026-07-11

Physical size is derived from the OpenNGC angular size and the catalogued distance (small-angle: size = angle × distance). This is a Galactic object: its Doppler shift is shown as a radial velocity, not a cosmological redshift. Fields a source did not provide are omitted, never invented.

ObjectTypeMagSize (′)
Amas de l'Ecu de SobieskiM 11 · NGC 6705Open cluster5.89
NGC 6664NGC 6664Open cluster7.86
NGC 6712NGC 6712Globular cluster8.695.7
M 26M 26 · NGC 6694Open cluster8.876
NGC 6649NGC 6649Open cluster8.95.58
NGC 6625NGC 6625Open cluster96
NGC 6704NGC 6704Open cluster9.23.3
NGC 6683NGC 6683Open cluster9.43

Sources

The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.

  • OpenNGCOpenNGC (M. Verga) — NGC/IC, Messier, and Caldwell catalogue data

    Openly-licensed deep-sky catalogue: object types, positions, magnitudes, sizes, morphology, and cross-identifiers.