member image
The Rotten Fish Nebula (LDN 1251)
Credit: Chuck Wraith
Also sometimes called the “Angler Fish Nebula”, this is a dark nebula 1000 LYRs away in Cepheus. There are two tiny spiral galaxies that can just be seen…one by the mouth (PGC69472, 150 Million LYRs away) and one just above the tail (LEDA 166755, 300 Million LYRs away). Running from left to upward right just above the pectoral fin region are multiple small, bright areas of dust … these are stellar nurseries in the process of birthing new stars and planetary systems. This nebula is very faint and extremely dark, not making its photographic appearance until stacked and stretched.
The Dark Shark Nebula (LDN 1235)
The Dark Shark Nebula (LDN 1235) is part of a large dust cloud in the constellation Cepheus, approximately 650 light years away. The entire nebula, of which this is only the “head”, spans 15 light years.