LDN 1622

LDN 1622
Nebula
Dark Nebula
Image of LDN 1622 from Kitt Peak National Observatory
Observation data: J2000.0 epoch
Right ascension05h 54m 28.00s
Declination+01° 48′ 12.0″
Distance1,400 ly
ConstellationOrion
See also: Lists of nebulae

LDN 1622 (also known as Boogeyman Nebula) is a dark nebula and is part of Barnard's loop in the Orion Molecular Cloud Complex located in the constellation of Orion. It is a dense molecular cloud of cold gas and dust that obscures light from background stars and emission regions.

Observation

As a dark nebula, LDN 1622 is challenging to observe visually or photographically and requires dark skies, long exposures, and often narrowband hydrogen-alpha imaging to reveal it against faint background emission. It is frequently imaged alongside LDN 1621 together known as Orion East Cloud and the reflection nebulae vdB 62 and vdB 63.

LDN 1622 has been studied as a source of anomalous microwave emission (AME). High-resolution observations with Green Bank Telescope at 4.85 GHz and 13.7 GHz revealed a 13.7 GHz AME flux density of 7.0±1.4 mJy, with a rising spectrum toward higher frequencies consistent with the spinning-dust model.

References

  1. 1 2 "LDN 1622". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved 2026-04-19.
  2. ↑ Wilson, B.A.; Dame, T.M.; Masheder, M.R.W.; Thaddeus, P. (2005). "A uniform CO survey of the molecular clouds in Orion and Monoceros". Astronomy and Astrophysics. 430 (2): 523–539. arXiv:astro-ph/0411089v1. Bibcode:2005A&A...430..523W. doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20035943. S2CID 13916583.
  3. 1 2 Grelin, Antoine & Dalia (2021-02-24). "LDN 1622 - The Boogeyman Nebula in Orion". Galactic Hunter. Retrieved 2026-04-19.
  4. 1 2 "APOD: 2023 January 25 – LDN 1622: The Boogeyman Nebula". apod.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2026-04-19.
  5. ↑ information@eso.org. "Hidden Secrets of Orion's Clouds - VISTA survey gives most detailed view of Orion A molecular cloud in the near-infrared". www.eso.org. Retrieved 2025-12-18.
  6. ↑ Jones, Trevor (2022-03-17). "The Boogeyman Nebula | My Astrophotography Image & Details". AstroBackyard. Retrieved 2026-04-19.
  7. ↑ "Nebula Photos - LDN 1622 (Boogeyman Nebula)". www.nebulaphotos.com. Retrieved 2026-04-19.
  8. 1 2 Harper, S. E.; Dickinson, C.; Cleary, K. (2015-01-07), "Observations of free–free and anomalous microwave emission from LDN 1622 with the 100 m Green Bank Telescope", Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 453 (4): 3376–3386, arXiv:1501.01484, doi:10.1093/mnras/stv1863
  9. ↑ Dickinson, C.; Casassus, S.; Davies, R. D.; Allison, J. R.; Bustos, R.; Cleary, K.; Davis, R. J.; Jones, M. E.; Pearson, T. J.; Readhead, A. C. S.; Reeves, R.; Taylor, A. C.; Tibbs, C. T.; Watson, R. A. (2010-06-29). "Infrared-correlated 31-GHz radio emission from Orion East: IR-correlated radio emission from Orion East". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 407 (4): 2223–2229. arXiv:1003.3815. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2010.17079.x.

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