Ghost Nebula

Sh2-136, often called the Ghost Nebula, is a faint reflection nebula located in the constellation Cepheus. Unlike emission nebulae that glow from ionized hydrogen, Sh2-136 is visible primarily through starlight reflected off cold interstellar dust within a larger complex of dark nebulae. A bright central binary star system dominates the field, illuminating the surrounding dust and defining the nebula’s subtle, ghostlike appearance against a dense background of field stars.

This region lies within the broader Cepheus Flare, an area rich in diffuse molecular clouds and high-latitude dust. With a total integration time of 48 hours captured over 9 days in mid November, 2024, the image reveals fine dust structures and gradual transitions between illuminated and obscured regions, emphasizing the interplay between the luminous stars and the surrounding interstellar material. The result highlights the quiet complexity of Sh2-136, where faint reflection and dark dust combine to form one of the more understated deep-sky objects in the northern sky.