Top Results for Faint
Pickering's Triangle, designated as NGC 6979, is a portion of the Cygnus Loop, a large supernova remnant in the constellation Cygnus. The filamentary structure was discovered photographically in 1904 by astronomer Williamina Fleming at the Harvard College Observatory under the direction of Edward Ch...
Why this score?
Delicate intertwined filaments and prominent placement within the Veil complex make it a highly regarded deep-sky imaging subject.
Scoring methodology
The Ghost of Saturn Nebula, designated NGC 7009, is a planetary nebula located in the constellation of Aquarius. English astronomer William Herschel discovered it in 1782, observing its distinct, roughly Saturn-like shape. The nebula is noted for its ansae, which are extensions of nebulosity flankin...
Why this score?
Distinctive layered planetary nebula celebrated in Hubble imagery, with strong visual reputation and scientific interest.
Scoring methodology
The Squid Nebula, formally designated OU4, is a faint emission nebula located within the Cepheus OB Association. It’s recognized by its distinctive bipolar outflow structure, resembling a squid's tentacle. This outflow, rich in oxygen emissions, extends over one degree and is associated with several...
Why this score?
Squid Nebula is highly prized for rarity, difficulty, and dramatic form within the Flying Bat field.
Scoring methodology
Abell 33, sometimes called the Diamond Ring Nebula, is a planetary nebula located in the constellation Hydra. The nebula appears almost perfectly spherical and is illuminated by a central white dwarf, the remnant of the original star. The "diamond ring" effect arises from the chance alignment of a f...
Why this score?
Near-perfect shell and coincident bright star create a celebrated diamond-ring composition, despite the nebula's low surface brightness.
Scoring methodology
The Flying Bat Nebula, also known as SH2-129, is a diffuse emission nebula located in the Cepheus constellation. It’s recognized for its faint glow and association with the nearby Sharpless Object Ou4, commonly called the Squid Nebula. This region represents an active star formation zone rich in ion...
Why this score?
Named Flying Bat Nebula has strong astrophotography recognition, dramatic field composition, and notable faint features.
Scoring methodology
The Shark Nebula, designated LDN 1235, is a dark molecular cloud located in the constellation Cepheus. It appears as a silhouette against the background star field, with a shape that resembles a shark, hence its common name. The nebula is included in the Lynds Catalogue of Dark Nebulae, a compilatio...
Why this score?
Remarkably convincing shark silhouette, layered dust, and elegant wide-field compositions make it a celebrated target among advanced astrophotographers.
Scoring methodology
The Soap Bubble Nebula is a delicate planetary nebula located within the constellation Cygnus. Formed from the expelled gases of a dying star, it’s notable for its unusual bubble-like shape resembling a soap bubble. Amateur astronomers like Dave Jurasevich discovered this faint object in 2007. It's...
Simeis 57, commonly referred to as the Propeller Nebula, is an emission nebula located in the constellation Cygnus. It is characterized by its distinctive shape, which features two opposing lobes of glowing ionized gas that resemble an aircraft propeller. The nebula is cataloged as DWB-111 and is a...
Why this score?
Unusual propeller-like symmetry, delicate emission, and excellent wide-field compositions earn strong astrophotography regard despite substantial faintness.
Scoring methodology
CTB 1, designated SNR G116.9+0.2, is a faint supernova remnant in the constellation Cassiopeia, visible across radio, optical, and X-ray wavelengths as a roughly circular shell of expanding gas from a stellar explosion. The remnant's near-circular morphology in optical imagery is distinctive among k...
Why this score?
Large circular supernova shell, delicate oxygen-rich filaments, and rewarding deep imaging earn acclaim despite extreme faintness and observational difficulty.
Scoring methodology
The Medusa Nebula (Abell 21) is a large planetary nebula located in the constellation Gemini, approximately 1,500 light-years from Earth. It was discovered by George O. Abell in 1955 and named for its filaments that resemble the snakes in Medusa's hair from Greek mythology. As an older planetary neb...
Simeis 147, also known as the Spaghetti Nebula or Sharpless 240, is a large, faint supernova remnant located in the constellations of Taurus and Auriga. It has an estimated age of approximately 40,000 years and a projected diameter of around 150 light-years, making it among the largest known superno...
Sh2-91 is a very faint emission nebula located in the northern constellation of Cygnus. It is classified as part of the Sharpless catalog and is specifically identified as the long southern filament of the supernova remnant designated G65.2+5.7. Because of its extremely low surface brightness, it is...
Why this score?
Simeis 57 area is prized for delicate filamentary structure; strong advanced astrophotography appeal.
Scoring methodology
Sh2-261, also called Lower's Nebula or LBN 863, is a faint hydrogen-emission region in the constellation Orion. It is an H II region whose gas is ionized by radiation from hot stars, including the O-type star HD 41997. The name Lower's Nebula refers to a photographic observation made by Harold and C...
Why this score?
Broad, attractive emission arcs and growing astrophotography popularity; faint surface brightness and limited historical fame temper acclaim.
Scoring methodology
NGC 6072 is a planetary nebula located in the southern constellation of Scorpius, first documented by astronomer John Herschel in 1837. The structure is characterized by its distinct, slightly asymmetrical, ring-like appearance, which was created by the expulsion of outer layers of gas from an aging...
Why this score?
Complex asymmetrical multipolar shell and detailed professional imagery attract specialists, though faintness and limited name recognition reduce broader esteem.
Scoring methodology
Jones-Emberson 1, commonly known as the Headphone Nebula, is a large and exceptionally faint planetary nebula located in the northern constellation of Lynx. It was discovered in 1939 by Rebecca Jones and Richard Emberson on photographic plates taken at the Harvard Observatory. Spanning about five ar...
RCW 114 is a large, filamentary emission nebula located in the southern constellation of Scorpius. Spanning approximately four degrees across the night sky, the structure is recognized by astronomers as an evolved candidate for a supernova remnant. Its faint, expansive filaments of ionized gas are b...
Why this score?
Huge delicate filaments and intriguing remnant status interest researchers and deep imagers, though faintness and uncertain classification temper acclaim.
Scoring methodology
Sharpless 2-274, also known as the Medusa Nebula, is a large planetary nebula located in the constellation Gemini. It was first catalogued by astronomer George Abell in 1955 as part of his survey of planetary nebulae identified on the Palomar Observatory Sky Survey photographic plates. The nebula is...
Why this score?
Medusa Nebula is a respected large planetary nebula with distinctive filaments, faintness keeps it below top-tier icons.
Scoring methodology
HFG 1 is an old planetary nebula in Cassiopeia, shaped by the binary V664 Cas as it plows through interstellar gas and makes a bow shock.
Jones 1 is a planetary nebula located in the constellation Pegasus, discovered by American astronomer Rebecca B. Jones in 1941. The nebula represents the ejected outer layers of a dying star and is classified as a bipolar planetary nebula with a distinctive structure. It has an unusually large appar...
Why this score?
Enormous faint planetary nebula with elegant ring structure and specialist acclaim, limited by low surface brightness.
Scoring methodology
Sharpless 2-290 (also cataloged as Abell 31) is a planetary nebula located in the constellation Cancer at an approximate distance of 2,000 light-years from Earth. Estimated to be around 20,000 years old, it is one of the largest and oldest known planetary nebulae, with an asymmetrical shell measurin...
Why this score?
Large evolved planetary nebula with attractive filamentary detail, respected by specialists but hindered by faintness and obscurity.
Scoring methodology
The Soccer Ball Nebula, formally designated Kronberger 61, is a planetary nebula located in the northern constellation of Cygnus. It was discovered in 2011 by the amateur astronomer Matthias Kronberger as part of a crowdsourced effort to identify celestial bodies. The nebula is distinguished by its...
Why this score?
Remarkably spherical morphology and notable amateur discovery attract interest, though extreme faintness makes observation and imaging difficult.
Scoring methodology
The Spaghetti Nebula, cataloged as Simeis 147 or Sharpless 2-240, is a large and extremely faint supernova remnant located on the border between the constellations Taurus and Auriga. It was discovered in 1952 at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory and spans roughly 3 degrees, or about 6 light-year...
The Witch Head Nebula, cataloged as IC 2118, is a faint reflection nebula located in the constellation Eridanus, roughly 900 light-years from Earth. It is composed of interstellar dust grains that reflect the light of nearby sources, most notably the blue supergiant star Rigel in the neighboring con...
The Box Nebula, formally designated as NGC 6309, is a planetary nebula located in the equatorial constellation of Ophiuchus. It was discovered by the German astronomer Wilhelm Tempel in the 19th century and is distinguished by its unusual, somewhat rectangular or bipolar structure. When viewed throu...
Why this score?
Distinctive quadrupolar geometry and compact appearance interest specialists, but faintness and limited visual detail reduce wider appeal.
Scoring methodology
Sharpless 2-261, commonly referred to as Lower's Nebula, is a faint H II emission region located in the constellation Orion. Catalogued by astronomer Stewart Sharpless in his 1959 survey of H II regions, it is distinguished by its distinctively elongated, irregular shape. The nebula's structure is i...
Why this score?
Pleasant elongated emission structure and appealing amateur-discovery history, but faintness and competition from Orion's landmarks limit recognition.
Scoring methodology
Lower's Nebula, designated as Sharpless 2-261, is an emission nebula located in the constellation Orion. It was discovered in 1939 by father-and-son amateur astronomers Harold and Charles Lower using early astrophotography techniques. The faint H II region is visually distinguished by its irregular,...
Why this score?
Pleasant elongated emission structure and appealing amateur-discovery history, but faintness and competition from Orion's landmarks limit recognition.
Scoring methodology
NGC 6772 is a planetary nebula in the constellation Aquila. William Herschel recorded it in July 1784, and modern catalogues identify it as a faint, compact object with a roughly oval or ring-like appearance in images. Like other planetary nebulae, it is the glowing material expelled by an evolved s...
Why this score?
Subtle ancient shell and interaction with surrounding material reward deep imaging; faintness and low familiarity constrain broader appeal.
Scoring methodology
Abell 21, commonly called the Medusa Nebula, is a large, faint planetary nebula in the constellation Gemini. It consists of ionized gas expelled by a dying low-mass star, whose hot remnant illuminates the nebula as a central white dwarf. Its curved filaments suggested the snakes of the mythological...
IC 2162 is a dense cluster of young stars and emission nebulosity located in the Orion constellation, notable for its highly active, deeply embedded protostellar objects.
Why this score?
Active embedded stellar nursery offers legitimate research interest, but obscuration, modest imagery, and weak public recognition constrain its standing.
Scoring methodology
The Prawn Nebula, cataloged as IC 4628, is a large emission nebula and H II region located in the constellation Scorpius. Spanning roughly 250 light-years and situated about 6,000 light-years away from Earth, it is an area of active star formation. The nebula is almost entirely invisible to the unai...
