Abell 34 is a large, faint planetary nebula located in the constellation Hydra. It exhibits a distinct, nearly spherical structure with a characteristic bluish-green hue due to ionized oxygen (OIII) emissions. This evolved nebula represents the final stages of a dying star shedding its outer layers, leaving behind a hot white dwarf at its core.

Captured from Fregenal de la Sierra, Spain, this deep-sky image required long integration times to reveal the nebula’s delicate structure against the background sky. Its low surface brightness makes it a challenging target, requiring precise calibration and processing to enhance its faint details while preserving the surrounding field of stars.