The easiest section of the Loop to find is NGC 6960, the
Veil Nebula.
During the summer months with Cygnus high in the sky, it's an ideal time to view one of the finest such objects, known as the Cygnus Loop or perhaps more commonly the
Veil Nebula. William Herschel discovered the nebula in 1784, but I have been unable to find out who coined the name 'The
Veil Nebula', though some use the name 'The Bridal
Veil Nebula'--I suppose alluding to the wispy nature of the loop of nebulosity.
This southern nebula, also known as the famous Pencil Nebula is counterpart to the well-known
Veil Nebula, which is located in the northern constellation Cygnus.
STAR MAN Peter outside his space shed SKY'S ALL RED Crescent Nebula SUPER
Veil Nebula's so colourful SWIRLING GALAXY Andromeda
Another fine sight is the
Veil Nebula whose faint streamers form a loop shape.
The only information we are provided with about most of Crotry's globes comes from their factual titles: M13 Globular Star Cluster in Hercules; or NGC 6992, Eastern Loop of the
Veil Nebula in Cygnus (both 2002).
This color composite of NGC 6960, the western side of the
Veil Nebula, reveals plenty of reddish Ha and teal-colored O III.
And for supernova remnants, the
Veil Nebula is the normal 'goto' object.
SWIRLING GALAXY Andromeda SKY'S ALL RED Crescent Nebula SUPERNOVA
Veil Nebula's so colourful STARMAN Peter outside his space shed
The
Veil Nebula lies a few degrees south of 2.5-magnitude Epsilon ([epsilon]) Cygni, but it is very dim.
But you may have a hard time convincing other amateurs to begin calling the Eastern
Veil Nebula after a disgraced former U.S.
the opposite wing to that containing the
Veil Nebula. Or, if you are observing from a dark site and can see fainter stars, it lies just over 1[degrees] east of mag 4.5 theta Cygni.