The South Celestial Serpent is a large integrated flux nebula (IFN). IFN are composed of diffuse dust particles, hydrogen and carbon monoxide and other elements. Unlike reflection nebula’s which are lit by proximate stars, IFN are illuminated by the glow of the Milky Way Galaxy and are much fainter than most reflection nebulae. IFN were only identified quite recently in great part due to improvements in the sensitivity of imaging sensors. They are very prominent in the direction of both the north and south celestial poles. The large IFN nebula close to the south celestial pole is MW9 and is commonly termed the South Celestial Serpent.

Imaged in RGB on our RH 350 at Observatorio El Sauce, Chile.

Image Processing: Mike Selby and Mark Hanson