LDN 1217 and PK 111+11.1: Wolf's Cave Region

Sun, 01 Dec 2024 12:25:00 +0000

This deep exposure captures the fascinating region around the dark nebula LDN 1217 in the constellation Cepheus. The long, dusty filament obscures background stars and terminates in a striking blue reflection nebula, vdB 152 (also known as Wolf’s Cave), where the dust is illuminated by a hot nearby star.

Adding brilliant contrast to the scene is the planetary nebula PK 111+11.1, glowing brightly in teal and red in the upper right. Faint sweeps of red hydrogen emission, captured using the dual-band L-eXtreme filter, streak across the rich starry background, highlighting the complex and dynamic interstellar medium of this area.

Optolong L-EXtreme 2" Filter on Sergey's Astrophotography

LDN 1217 and PK 111+11.1: Wolf's Cave Region