The Squid Nebula, also known as Sh2-129 or Ou4, is one of the most enigmatic and striking deep-sky objects. Located in the constellation Cepheus, this faint emission nebula spans an astonishing three degrees of the sky—roughly six times the diameter of the full moon. It was first discovered in 2011 by French astrophotographer Nicolas Outters.

What makes the Squid Nebula so extraordinary is its ghostly, bipolar shape, which appears embedded within the larger Sh2-129 region, known as the Flying Bat Nebula. The nebula glows predominantly in the OIII wavelength, giving it a bluish hue that contrasts dramatically against the surrounding H-alpha emission of Sh2-129.

Astrophysicists speculate that Ou4 may represent an enormous outflow of material ejected from a triple star system at its center, potentially linked to a massive stellar wind or an ancient supernova event. However, its true origins remain a subject of ongoing study.

This composite image features a captivating 2-panel mosaic of the intricate SH2-129 and OU4 nebulae, highlighting their stunning OIII-RGB emission patterns. Through the implementation of specialized filters, the mosaic vividly portrays the intricate interstellar structures and the distinct emission characteristics of these nebulae. SH2-129, also known as the Flying Bat Nebula, boasts dynamic filamentary features, while OU4, the Iris Nebula, exhibits intricate details and a captivating ring-like appearance. The utilization of the OIII-RGB technique enhances the contrast and color separation of the nebular components, providing valuable insights into the ionized gas dynamics and the underlying physical processes driving the evolution of these stellar nurseries.

Image Description and Details :

Today I want to show you my most elaborate DeepSky object. And that is SH2-129 & Ou4The Bat and Squid Nebula in the constellation of Cepheus.Ou4 is also called "the flying bat and giant squid nebula". This is the penis-like shape with the special blue-green emissions of double-ionized oxygen atoms. The squid nebula was discovered in 2011 by the French astrophotographer Nicolas Outters and is very faint.Therefore, I took all pictures with a new moon as possible.The entire field is approx. 3 degrees or 6 full moons wide! As a result, I had to make a 4-part mosaic with 6 "f / 4 Newton at 600 mm focal length. So actually a huge object in the night sky.The image processing was then again a challenge. Above all, a picture that was as natural as possible with the "right" colors was important to me. I also like star colors ---------------------------------------------Recording dates: Location: Upper AustriaRecording date: May to June 2021Distance: 2300 light yearsDiameter: 50 light yearsExposure: 122 x 300 sec. For RGB151 x 900 sec. With dual narrowbandTotal: 48 hours Calibration: Darks / Flats / DarkFlatsMount: Skywatcher EQ6-R PROTelescope: TS 6 ″ Newton Carbon 150/600Corrector: Lacerta GPU coma correctorFilters: Astronomik L2 UV-IR Block 2 ″ and Optolong Filter L-eXtreme 2 ″Camera: QHY268c @ Gain 0 at -15 ° CGuiding: ZWO OAG with QHY5III462c and PHD2Heaven: Mag. 21.67Software: APP / Photoshop CC / NHF-sharpen

Copyright: Daniel Nimmervoll