Flying Bat Nebula
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Object
Flying Bat Nebula
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Description
Sh2-129 – The Flying Bat Nebula (Sharpless 2-129) is a vast emission nebula and H II region located in the constellation Cepheus, approximately 2,300 light-years from Earth within the Cepheus molecular cloud complex and Cepheus OB2 stellar association. This 140-arcminute wide structure, discovered by Stewart Sharpless in the 1950s, glows primarily from hydrogen-alpha emissions energized by ultraviolet radiation from embedded hot, young stars, creating its distinctive bat-like wings spanning over 50 light-years across the sky. Nestled within Sh2-129 lies the rare bipolar outflow nebula Ou4 (the Squid Nebula), discovered in 2011 by French astrophotographer Nicolas Outters—a faint, teal [O III] structure possibly driven 90,000 years ago by the massive triple star system HD 202214/HR 8119 at its heart, which may represent either a planetary nebula precursor or dramatic stellar outburst. This widefield view (3.5° FOV) reveals the intricate interplay of glowing Ha filaments, faint reflection nebula vdB 140 nearby, and pervasive galactic cirrus dust lanes.
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Image
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Scope
Askar FR400
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Camera
ASI2600 mc
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Mount
Paramount MYT
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Filters
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Guiding
Off Axis Guider
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Exposure Info
260 4 minute exposures totaling over 17 hours exposure time
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Date
12/28/2024
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Copyright
Photo copyright Thomas Kerns, Beluga Lake Observatory