vdB 158 is a reflection nebula in the constellation Andromeda that shines by scattering the light of a nearby star rather than emitting its own, giving it a characteristic soft bluish glow in long-exposure images. With an apparent magnitude of 9.55, the illuminating star is accessible to modest telescopes, but revealing the faint surrounding nebulosity demands patient, deeply stacked exposures under dark skies. Because reflection nebulae carry most of their signal in the blue end of the spectrum, broadband RGB imaging with good color calibration tends to yield the most natural rendition. Careful control of light pollution and gradient removal in post-processing are essential to pull the delicate nebular structure away from the background sky.
Names, key data and data sources
All values come from the astronomical database SIMBAD (CDS Strasbourg). Tap a row to see where the value comes from.
Catalogue numbersvdB 158 (van den Bergh 158)Primary designation: vdB 158SIMBAD
TypeReflection NebulaAstrocamp
ConstellationAndromeda (And)computed
Position (J2000)RA 23h 37m 52s · Dec +48° 29′ 48″SIMBAD
Galactic coordinatesl = 110.6° · b = −12.6°Position relative to the Milky Way plane: 13° south of itcomputed
Brightness9.6 magBand V (visual) · B 9.7 magSIMBAD
Distance1,390 light-years427 pcSIMBAD
Sources and methods (7)
- Catalogue numbers: All identifiers under which SIMBAD lists the object; order according to the Astrocamp catalogue rule.
- Type: Value since Oct 7, 2026
- Constellation: Computed from the position (IAU constellation boundaries). Value since Jun 25, 2026 · last confirmed with SIMBAD Oct 20, 2026
- Position (J2000): Entry in SIMBAD, accuracy ± 0.0093 milliarcseconds, quality A (SIMBAD scale A–E). Publication: 2020yCat.1350....0G (NASA ADS). Value since Jun 25, 2026 · last confirmed with SIMBAD Oct 20, 2026
- Galactic coordinates: Converted from the position (IAU 1958 galactic system). Publication: 2020yCat.1350....0G (NASA ADS). Value since Jun 25, 2026 · last confirmed with SIMBAD Oct 20, 2026
- Brightness: One catalogue value, band V, quality E (SIMBAD scale A–E). Value since Jun 25, 2026 · last confirmed with SIMBAD Oct 20, 2026
- Distance: Median of all 2 measurements listed in SIMBAD (methods: paral 2), middle half 1,390 light-years – 1,400 light-years, full range 1,380 light-years – 1,400 light-years, rounded according to the scatter. Value since Oct 20, 2026 · last confirmed with SIMBAD Oct 20, 2026
Checked against SIMBAD on Oct 20, 2026 · Open vdB 158 in SIMBAD
Position and the cosmic neighborhood
vdB 158 sits in the northern constellation Andromeda at right ascension 23h 37m 51.6s and declination +48° 29′ 47.6″, placing it high in the autumn sky for observers in the northern hemisphere. Its northerly declination means it stays well above the horizon through much of the night during the imaging season, making for long usable exposure windows. The surrounding Milky Way star fields of this region offer a rich backdrop, and framing the nebula alongside its brighter neighboring stars can add context and color contrast to a composition. At roughly 1,380 light-years distant, it belongs to our own galactic neighborhood, a relatively nearby dust-and-starlight pairing well suited to wide and medium focal lengths.
Nice to Know
- vdB 158 carries the designation from the van den Bergh catalog of reflection nebulae, a specialized list focused on dust clouds lit by nearby stars.
- Its light is reflected starlight, so it appears bluish in images rather than the red of emission nebulae, calling for broadband RGB rather than narrowband filters.
- At an apparent magnitude of 9.55, the illuminating star is easy to capture, while the surrounding nebulosity is faint and rewards long integration times.
- Lying about 1,380 light-years away in Andromeda, it is a comparatively close-by target within our own galaxy.