[OC] LDN 1235 – The Dark Shark Nebula

Behold LDN 1235, commonly known as the Dark Shark Nebula, located in the constellation of Cepheus. For me it looks like an aligator or a dragon 🙂

The "shark" itself is a massive molecular cloud composed of dense, cold gas and cosmic dust (mostly carbon and silicates). It doesn't emit its own light; on the contrary, it absorbs and blocks the starlight shining from behind it.

The most interesting features in this frame, however, are the blue regions near the shark's "head" and "gills". These are reflection nebulae cataloged as vdB 149 and vdB 150. Their blue color is the result of starlight from young, hot stars scattering off the surrounding dust particles – a phenomenon very similar to what makes Earth's sky appear blue during the day.

Zenithstar 73+Zwo Asi 2600mc pro+Zwo Am3. One night from Bortle 4