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Credit & Copyright: Ian Moehring & Kevin Roylance
Explanation:
It is one of the largest nebulas on the sky -- why isn't it better known?
Roughly the same angular size as the
Andromeda Galaxy, the Great Lacerta Nebula can be found toward the
constellation of the Lizard (Lacerta).
The emission nebula is difficult to see with
wide-field binoculars because
it is so faint, but also usually
difficult to see with a
large telescope because it is so great in angle -- spanning about three
degrees.
The depth, breadth,
waves, and beauty of the nebula -- cataloged as
Sharpless 126 (Sh2-126) --
can best be seen and appreciated with a
long duration camera exposure.
The featured image is one such combined exposure -- in this case
taken over three nights in August through dark skies in
Moses Lake,
Washington,
USA.
The hydrogen gas in the Great Lacerta Nebula
glows red because it is excited by light from the bright star
10 Lacertae, one of the bright blue stars
just to the left of the red-glowing nebula's center.
Most of the stars and nebula are about 1,200
light years distant.
Jigsaw Universe:
Astronomy Puzzle of the Day
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: emission nebula
Publications with words: emission nebula
See also:
- APOD: 2025 September 19 Á The NGC 6914 Complex
- APOD: 2025 July 21 Á Cats Paw Nebula from Webb Space Telescope
- APOD: 2025 July 16 Á The Rosette Nebula from DECam
- APOD: 2025 July 5 Á Ou4: The Giant Squid Nebula
- APOD: 2025 June 26 Á The Seagull Nebula
- NGC 6164: A Dragon s Egg
- APOD: 2025 February 18 Á Thors Helmet versus the Seagull