NGC 1788, Cosmic Bat,DR350

NGC 1788, Cosmic Bat Nebula  This  image captures the ethereal beauty of NGC 1788, a reflection nebula nestled within the constellation Orion. The right most feature has the distinctive shape some have identified as a bat-like head shape. It is formed by cosmic dust and gas illuminated by newborn stars, and gives it the nickname “The Cosmic Bat.” I think it looks more like a ghost, to the right of what appears to be a small furry dog with its dark nose on the top of a large pillar. Located roughly 2,000 light-years away, this distinctive feature offers a glimpse into the dynamic processes of star formation. The nebula’s intricate details, including wispy filaments and dark dust lanes, can be seen in this image. Strong winds from Orion’s bright stars have shaped NGC 1788, and likely triggered the formation of the young stars within.

The scene spans about 1 degree in the sky or 2 full Moons. Hitting the previous button on the upper left takes you to a version with the stars removed which gives a cleaner view of the nebula itself.  The image was taken by the 14″ Planewave DR350 telescope by Martin Pugh in Australia and processed by Michael Adler. The image is in RGB and narrowband Hydrogen emissions shown in red.