Hubble's variable nebula

Hubble's variable nebula

(NGC 2261) A fan-shaped reflection nebula in the constellation Monoceros that is illuminated by the variable star R Monocerotis. R Mon, an infrared source, is a very young stellar object surrounded by a disk of dust and ejecting a bipolar outflow; this causes the brightness and outline of the nebula to vary. The nebula is a Herbig–Haro object. It takes its name from the great US astronomer Edwin Hubble, who first noticed its variability.

Hubble's Variable Nebula

[′həb·əlz ¦ver·ē·ə·bəl ′neb·yə·lə] (astronomy) A variable-brightness nebula associated with variable stars and fan-shaped in appearance.