The Lion Nebula

Object/s: The Lion Nebula, 23 Cep, 23 eps Cep, B369, HD210855, HD210886, HD210922, HD211070, HD211336, HD211430, HD211472, HD211489, HD211554, HD211564, HD211643, HD211774, HD211820, HD211853, HD211982, HD212043, HD212106, HD212183, HD212184, HD212312, HD212454, HD212455, HD212533, HD235765, HD235775, HD235793, HD235807, HD235809, HD235810, HD235813, HD239886, HD239919, HD239928, HD239929, HD239933, LBN 471, LBN 473, LDN 1150, LDN 1154, LDN 1156, LDN 1161, LDN 1163, NGC 7234, NGC 7235, PK103+00.1, PK103+00.2, RW Cep, Sh2-132, The star ε Cep

The Lion Nebula Sh2-132 is a weak emission nebula near the constellations of Cepheus and Lacerta. It’s thought to be between 10,000 and 12,000 light years away. The main components of this emission nebula are hydrogen and oxygen gases, which are stimulated to a high energy state by ultraviolet light from nearby stars and subsequently re-emit the light. The darker areas are “dark nebulae,” which are dust clouds that obscure light. This image is a combination of narrowband wavelengths of light. A color palette known as SHO (SII, Ha, OIII). The reddish areas are Ha and SII emissions and the blue is OIII.