Best Shaped

The Blue Horsehead Nebula, officially designated as IC 4592, is an interstellar reflection nebula located in the constellation of Scorpius. The nebula's characteristic shape and brilliant blue coloration are the result of interstellar dust scattering and reflecting the intense light from nearby hot...

The Tadpoles Nebula, cataloged as IC 410, is an emission nebula located in the constellation Auriga. It is characterized by a dense, embedded star cluster known as NGC 1893, whose stellar winds have sculpted the surrounding gas and dust. The nebula's most distinctive features are two dense, globule-...

The Pipe Nebula is a large, prominent dark cloud complex located in the constellation Ophiuchus, consisting of dense clouds of interstellar dust that obscure the light of background stars. Cataloged by astronomer Edward Emerson Barnard, the complex is recognized for its distinct silhouette, which is...

The Keyhole Nebula is a dark nebula within the Carina Nebula region, notable for its unique, hourglass-like shape. It’s formed from dense clouds of cold gas and dust actively absorbing light from nearby star formation. Primarily observed by astronomers studying stellar evolution and the dynamics of...

Simeis 57, commonly called the Propeller Nebula, is a distinctive HII region in Cygnus recognized by its twin opposing lobes of glowing gas.

The Manatee Nebula is a supernova remnant in the constellation Aquila that resembles the marine mammal and features unusual jet structures from a microquasar.

CG 4, nicknamed God's Hand, is a cometary globule in the constellation Puppis, notable for its faint, finger-like extensions of interstellar dust.

Sharpless 2-252, commonly called the Monkey Head Nebula, is an emission nebula and H II region located in the constellation Orion. It is an active star-forming region containing a massive embedded star cluster, and it is frequently imaged in the H-alpha wavelength to reveal its glowing hydrogen gas....

The E Nebula is a dark absorption cloud in Aquila cataloged by E. E. Barnard, notable for its dark silhouette resembling the letter E.

NGC 3576, popularly known as the Statue of Liberty Nebula, is a bright emission nebula located in the Sagittarius spiral arm of the Milky Way, within the constellation Carina. The nebula was discovered by the English astronomer John Herschel in 1834. It is a complex star-forming region characterized...

Sh2-132, commonly known as the Lion Nebula, is an extensive emission nebula located in the northern constellation of Cepheus. It is an H II region ionized by the radiation of several massive, hot stars, including notable Wolf-Rayet stars and stellar clusters. The nebula is a frequent target for astr...

NGC 2467, commonly known as the Skull and Crossbones Nebula, is an H II region and active star-forming area in the constellation Puppis. First recorded by William Herschel in 1784, this emission nebula contains young, hot stars that illuminate the surrounding gas clouds. The nebula's distinctive app...

NGC 2467 is an active star-forming region located in the southern constellation of Puppis. The nebula consists of bright emission clouds interspersed with dark dust lanes, creating an appearance that has led to its unofficial nickname, the Skull and Crossbones. It serves as a rich area for astronomi...

Cougnou is a sweet, enriched yeast bread traditionally eaten in Belgium and nearby parts of northern France during the winter holiday season. Its distinctive elongated shape represents the swaddled infant Jesus, and regional names include cougnolle and coquille. The bread may be plain or contain rai...

The Tulip Nebula, catalogued as Sharpless 2-101, is an emission nebula in the constellation Cygnus. Its glowing gas is ionized by radiation from nearby young, hot stars, and its curved outline gives the object its floral nickname in astronomical images. The nebula lies in the same region of the sky...