description Flying Bat Nebula Overview
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 ionized hydrogen gas, primarily observed by amateur astronomers and researchers studying H II regions and stellar nurseries.
insights Why this score
Flying Bat Nebula ranks #114 of 577 in the Nebula ranking, behind Dark Shark Nebula, ahead of Pipe Nebula.
Named Flying Bat Nebula has strong astrophotography recognition, dramatic field composition, and notable faint features.
help Flying Bat Nebula FAQ
Are the Flying Bat Nebula and Squid Nebula the same object?
No, the Flying Bat Nebula is the hydrogen-rich emission region cataloged as Sh2-129. Ou4, nicknamed the Squid Nebula, is a separate bipolar structure seen projected within the same area of Cepheus.
Why is the Flying Bat Nebula difficult to photograph?
Sh2-129 has very low surface brightness, so astrophotographers generally need long exposures and dark skies. Narrowband hydrogen-alpha filters help isolate the Flying Bat, while doubly ionized oxygen filters are used to reveal the much fainter Ou4 structure.
Who discovered the Squid Nebula inside Sh2-129?
French astrophotographer Nicolas Outters discovered Ou4 in 2011 while imaging the Sh2-129 field. Its enormous apparent size and faint oxygen emission made it an unusual addition to the catalog of known nebulae.
Where in the sky can the Flying Bat Nebula be found?
Sh2-129 lies in the northern constellation Cepheus. The field is close to the star cluster NGC 6939 and the Fireworks Galaxy, NGC 6946, although those objects are physically unrelated foreground or background sights.
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