The Flying Bat and Squid Nebulae, SH2-129 and OU4 (Steven Bellavia)

Celestial hemisphere: Northern · Constellation: Cepheus (Cep)

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The Flying Bat and Squid Nebulae, SH2-129 and OU4

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The Flying Bat and Squid Nebulae, SH2-129 and OU4

The Giant Squid Nebula cataloged as Ou4, which lies within the Flying Bat, SH2-129, both in Cepheus, is extremely faint, and was not discovered until 2011, by amateur astrophotographer, Nicolas Outters of France.

The field of view is 3 degrees or 6 Full Moons across. The Squid Nebula's blue-green emission is from doubly ionized oxygen atoms. Though apparently completely surrounded by the reddish hydrogen emission region Sh2-129, the true distance and nature of the Squid Nebula have been difficult to determine. More recent investigation suggests Ou4 really does lie within Sh2-129 some 2,300 light-years away. Consistent with that scenario, Ou4 would represent a spectacular outflow driven by HR8119, a triple system of hot, massive stars seen near the center of the nebula. The truly giant Squid Nebula would physically be nearly 50 light-years across.

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Nebulae

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The Flying Bat and Squid Nebulae, SH2-129 and OU4

The Flying Bat and Squid Nebulae, SH2-129 and OU4

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The Flying Bat and Squid Nebulae, SH2-129 and OU4

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