LBN 968 - Dark nebula in the constellation Eridanus
The molecular clouds of the nebula LBN 968 are located about 3 degrees west of the bright star Rigel, on the border between the constellations Orion and Eridanus. While it often only appears as a small nebula in the southern part of the well-known Witch Head Nebula in images with shorter focal lengths, I wanted to put it in the center of attention here.
Particularly exciting is a small area within the nebula that apparently contains active star formation. This can be seen in the small, yellowish glowing reflection nebula that is visible in the right half of LBN 968.
The color contrast between the glowing red Hα shell surrounding the northern and eastern part of the nebula and the faint bluish reflection nebulae in the right third of the image is also remarkable. In the transition area, the molecular clouds are already so thin that a distant spiral galaxy shines through them.
| Date: | 17.12.2024-20.02.2025 |
| Optics: | Planewave CDK 14 with Televue 0.8x reducer |
| Aperture: | 350 mm |
| Focal Length: | 2050 mm |
| Camera: | QHY268M |
| Exposure: | L:R:G:B 60:30:32:31 x 600 s Hα 63 x 600 s |
| Location: | Gemsbock Observatory, Rooisand Desert Ranch, Namibia |
| Processing: | PixInsight, Photoshop |
| Diameter: | 5 light years |
| Distance: | 900 light years |
