Lynds Catalog of Dark Nebulae: Positions, Sizes, and Opacity Estimates

An updated version of the 1962 Lynds Catalog of Dark Nebulae, based on the National Geographic-Palomar Observatory Sky Atlas. This HEASARC version from June 1997 contains positions, sizes in square degrees, visual opacity estimates, and cross-identifications to Barnard Objects. It is a service provided by NASA HEASARC.

Use Cases

• Mapping the distribution of interstellar dust based on cataloged dark nebula positions.
• Analyzing the relationship between cloud size and opacity based on the tabulated visual estimates.
• Cross-referencing historical astronomical observations using the Barnard Object identifications.

Strengths

• Catalog is an updated version of a foundational 1962 astronomical resource.
• Includes multiple data attributes per object: position, size, opacity, and cross-identifications.
• Derived from an authoritative source (CDS Catalog VII/7A) and maintained by NASA HEASARC.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Data is based on visual estimates from photographic plates, which may introduce subjective bias.

Provenance

Source

NASA HEASARC, derived from CDS Catalog VII/7A.

Collection Method

Study of the red and blue prints of the National Geographic-Palomar Observatory Sky Atlas.

Time Range

Catalog originally published in 1962; HEASARC version created in June 1997.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 18:08:19.002389; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Celestial coverage from the Palomar Observatory Sky Atlas.