LDN 1235, also known as the Shark Nebula, in the constellation Cepheus.
🌌 Overview
- Name: Shark Nebula
- Catalog: LDN 1235 (Lynds’ Dark Nebula 1235)
- Constellation: Cepheus
- Distance from Earth: ~650 light-years
- Apparent Size: ~2.5° wide
- Type: Dark nebula + Integrated Flux Nebula (IFN)
🦈 What is the Shark Nebula?
The Shark Nebula is a large, faint dark nebula made visible by its silhouette against the rich background of stars. Its name comes from the resemblance to the profile of a swimming shark, with a bright star forming the “eye.”
- Located in a region full of interstellar dust and gas, part of the broader Integrated Flux Nebulae (IFN) complex
- The Shark Nebula does not emit light, but is visible by blocking the starlight behind it
- Composed of cold gas and cosmic dust, it marks regions where future star formation could take place
✨ Visual Characteristics
- The main body is outlined by reflection nebulae, especially around the blue stars near the “snout” of the shark
- Faint wisps of dust fill the region, highlighted in long-exposure broadband images
- Dark nebulae like LDN 1235 are best captured from very dark skies with long integration times
📷 Equipment Used
- Telescope: TS-Optics 80PHQ (544mm f/6.8 Quintuplet APO)
- Camera: SVBONY SV605MC (IMX533 Mono)
- Mount: Sky-Watcher EQ5 Pro
- Guiding: Off-Axis Guider with veLOX 178 C
- Filters: LRGB
- Software: NINA, PHD2, PixInsight, Photoshop
📝 Final Thoughts
LDN 1235 is a stunning example of the quiet, ghostly structures hidden in our own galaxy. Capturing the subtle textures of cosmic dust in dark nebulae like this is a rewarding challenge, combining long exposures with careful post-processing.
Sometimes the cosmos reveals creatures hidden in the stars — you just need the patience to look.
Clear skies!