Around the fourth magnitude star 52 Cygni is NGC-6960 -- also known as the Veil Nebula, Filamentary Nebula, Cirrus Nebula, or Cygnus Loop. The other part is nearby 6992. The Veil is a long, thin fragmented ribbon of light: virtually impossible to see under all but the very best conditions. This is the remains of a star that exploded thousands of years ago. Use averted vision, and keep 52 just out of the field. 6960 is about a degree long if you follow it, but only a few minutes of arc in width, curving, and very ghostly. Rich region!
| NGC: | 6960 |
| OTHER NAMES: | Veil Nebula |
| CLASS: | diffuse nebula |
| SIZE: | 190' x 8' |
| DISTANCE: | 1300 light years |
| POSITION: | 20h 44m +30d 46' |
| CONSTELLATION: | Cygnus |
| DATE OF SKETCH: | 08/02/76 |
| MAGNIFICATION USED: | 40x,70x |
