SUNSET: 
0
Photographer:
bellavia
Location of Photo:
Cherry Springs State Park, PA
Date/Time of photo:
July 29-31, 20222
Equipment:
William Optics FLT-91, Starizona Apex-L, ZWO ASI294MM Pro camera, SkyWatcher EQ6-R Pro equatorial mount
Description:
The Giant Squid Nebula in Cepheus, cataloged as Ou4, which lies within the Flying Bat Nebula, SH2-129, both in Cepheus, is extremely faint, and was not discovered until 2011, by amateur astrophotographer Nicolas Outters of France. The field of view is 3 degrees or 6 Full Moons across. The Squid Nebula's blue-green emission is from doubly ionized oxygen atoms. Though apparently completely surrounded by the reddish hydrogen emission region Sh2-129, the true distance and nature of the Squid Nebula have been difficult to determine. More recent investigation suggests Ou4 really does lie within Sh2-129 some 2,300 light-years away. Consistent with that scenario, Ou4 would represent a spectacular outflow driven by HR8119, a triple system of hot, massive stars seen near the center of the nebula. The truly giant Squid Nebula would physically be nearly 50 light-years across.
