Best Sharpless

Sh2-276, also known as Barnard’s Loop, is a vast emission nebula situated within the Orion constellation. Observed by E.E. Barnard in 1894, it represents a prominent arc of glowing gas linked to the larger Orion-Eridanus superbubble. The nebula's structure—particularly the Barnards loop—is notable f...

Sh2-240, also known as Simeis 147, is a large supernova remnant located within the Taurus constellation. It’s notable for its intricate filamentary structure and association with the “Spaghetti Nebula” nickname due to its resemblance to strands of pasta. This remnant originates from a star that expl...

Sh2-308 is an emission nebula located within the Canis Major constellation. It’s characterized by a prominent bubble structure formed around the Wolf-Rayet star EZ Canis Majoris. This bubble, spanning approximately 60 light-years, represents material ejected from the star's intense stellar winds. As...

Sh2-129, also known as the Flying Bat Nebula, is a significant emission nebula located within the Cepheus OB2 association. This region exhibits a distinctive bipolar outflow, designated Ou4, driven by intense star formation. It’s notable for its complex structure and is primarily observed using wide...

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...

The Dolphin-Head Nebula, also designated Sh2-308, is an emission nebula within the larger Canis Major wolf-rayet nebula complex. This distinctive bubble shape arises from powerful stellar winds emanating from the WR star EZ Canis Majoris. Astronomers and amateur observers studying star formation, pa...

Sharpless 2-157 is an emission nebula located within the Cassiopeia constellation. Identified by astronomer Stewart Sharpless as part of his 1959 survey of star-forming regions, it’s notable for its strong hydrogen-alpha (HII) emission lines. These lines reveal intense star formation activity within...

The Tulip Nebula, formally designated Sh2-101, is an emission nebula within the Cygnus constellation. It’s notable for its distinctive flower-like shape, created by intense ultraviolet radiation from a young star. This high-ionization region (HII) showcases complex molecular gas and dust structures,...

Sh2-264 represents the Lambda Orionis Ring, a prominent emission nebula within the Orion constellation. This vast structure is driven by ionization from the blue giant star Meissa, creating vibrant colors. Astronomers study it to understand regions of active star formation and the interaction betwee...

The Lobster Claw Nebula, formally Sh2-157, is an emission nebula located within the Cassiopeia constellation. It’s notable for its distinctive claw-like structure formed by intense star formation activity. This region, associated with the Cas OB2 association of massive stars and situated in the Pers...

Sh2-157, also known as the Lobster Claw Nebula, is an emission nebula located within the Cassiopeia OB2 association. This region of star formation exhibits a distinctive “lobster claw” morphology shaped by the intense ultraviolet radiation from massive, hot stars. It’s a significant example of how s...

Sh2-101 is an emission nebula within the Cygnus constellation. It’s a Sharpless H II region, specifically known as the Tulip Nebula due to its distinctive flower-like shape. This star-forming area is notable for its proximity to the black hole binary system Cygnus X-1. Astronomers and researchers st...

The Cave Nebula, officially Sh2-155, is a diffuse emission nebula located within the Cepheus OB3 star cluster. It’s notable for its intricate internal structure resembling a cave, created by intense ultraviolet radiation from young, hot stars. This region is classified as a H II region and a Caldwel...

Sh2-155, also known as the Cave Nebula, is a dark emission nebula located within the Cepheus B cloud approximately 2,400 light-years from Earth. This Caldwell 9 H II region exhibits ongoing star formation and displays a distinctive cave-like structure due to dense dust clouds. Astronomers and resear...

The Lion Nebula, catalogued as Sharpless 2-132, is a large emission nebula and H II region in the constellation Cepheus. Its gas is energized by ultraviolet radiation from massive hot stars, including Wolf-Rayet and OB-type stars, producing the ionized hydrogen emission commonly recorded in deep-sky...

Sh2-132, commonly known as the Lion Nebula, is a large emission and diffuse nebula located in the constellation Cepheus. It is situated within the Cep OB1 stellar association, an active region of star formation. The nebula's complex gas structures are partly ionized by highly luminous Wolf-Rayet sta...

Sh2-171, also catalogued as NGC 7822, is a vast emission nebula and star-forming complex located in the constellation Cepheus. The region was systematically catalogued by astronomer Stewart Sharpless in his 1959 survey of H II regions. It is distinguished by its intricate structures of glowing gas a...

Designated as Sh2-103 in the Sharpless catalog, this astronomical object is a massive supernova remnant commonly known as the Cygnus Loop. Spanning nearly three degrees in the sky, it consists of a large, filamentary nebula resulting from the explosion of a massive star. The brightest optical arcs o...

Sh2-188 is an asymmetric planetary nebula in Cassiopeia, notable for a bright bow-like rim caused by strong interaction with interstellar gas.

The Lambda Orionis Ring is the large molecular cloud and H II shell around Lambda Orionis in Orion, spanning about 8 degrees on the sky.

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...

Sharpless 2-112 is an HII emission nebula located in the constellation Cygnus, cataloged by American astronomer Stewart Sharpless in his 1959 survey of galactic nebulae. As a star-forming region, its ionized hydrogen gas emits a distinct red glow when energized by nearby massive, hot stars. The nebu...

Sh2-199, commonly known as the Soul Nebula or W5, is a large emission nebula located in the constellation Cassiopeia. It is an H II region situated approximately 7,500 light-years from Earth. The nebula is an active star-forming region that has been extensively studied by infrared observatories like...

Sh2-104 is a compact emission nebula and H II region located in the constellation Cygnus. It is recognized by its distinct bubble-like appearance, which is sculpted by stellar winds from its central, massive stars. Astronomers study Sh2-104 as a primary example of the collect-and-collapse model of t...

Sh2-162, formally cataloged as NGC 7635 and commonly known as the Bubble Nebula, is an emission nebula located in the constellation Cassiopeia. It was discovered by astronomer William Herschel in 1787. The nebula is an H II region shaped by the intense stellar wind radiating from the massive O-type...

Sharpless 2-235 is a massive star-forming region and emission nebula located in the constellation Auriga. It was officially documented by astronomer Stewart Sharpless in his landmark 1959 catalog of HII regions, which mapped ionized hydrogen clouds across the Milky Way. The nebula's illumination is...

Sh2-216 is a large, ancient planetary nebula located in the constellation Perseus. It is catalogued in the Sharpless catalogue of H II regions and is notable for being among the nearest known planetary nebulae to Earth, at an estimated distance of approximately 129 parsecs (about 420 light-years). I...

Sh2-86 is an H II emission nebula located in the constellation Vulpecula. It is closely associated with the young open star cluster NGC 6823 and serves as a primary site of active star formation within the Vulpecula OB1 stellar association. The region is cataloged within the Sharpless catalog of neb...

Sh2-142 is an H II emission nebula in the constellation Cepheus, commonly known as the Wizard Nebula. It is associated with the open star cluster NGC 7380, which was discovered by Caroline Herschel in 1787. The nebula is ionized by the radiation from young, hot stars within the cluster and is catalo...