This emission nebula, nicknamed the Wizard Nebula, is located 8000 light years away in the constellation of Cepheus at a declination of +58 degrees. The object consists of a broad emission nebula, many dark dust clouds and lanes, and an open star cluster. The object spans about 100 light years, making it appear larger to us in the sky than the full moon.

NGC 7380 is the designation for the star cluster at the center of the image, which was the original object discovered in this area by Caroline Herschel in 1787. In astrophotography images like this one, this cluster is overshadowed by the magnificent surrounding emission complex. I love how all of the towering dust cloud pillars point back to the cluster at the center, the result of the tremendous stellar winds that are shaping these dust clouds. Scientists believe that this kind of nebula is the birthplace of many stars, formed when the molecular clouds begin to collapse and fragment under their own gravity. I also like the details and shading of the bluish emission section which rises from the center of the cluster, as well as the smaller bright reddish section just to the left of center.

This object is one of the few that has a nickname I like.