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21052025-Barnard 252
Barnard 252 – The Cosmic Seahorse in the Dark
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At first glance, it may look like an empty patch of space… but look again. Slithering across a rich field of stars lies Barnard 252, a dark nebula in Scorpius, sculpted by dense clouds of interstellar dust that block the starlight behind it. Also nicknamed the "Seahorse Nebula" for its shape, this silhouette reveals the raw, cold material from which stars are eventually born.
Invisible to the naked eye and completely devoid of visible glow, Barnard 252 is revealed only through long exposures that expose the contrast between darkness and stellar light. These dark nebulae are essential pieces of our galactic puzzle—harboring secrets of stellar formation in their silent, lightless embrace.
Coordinates: RA 17h 51m, Dec -30° 20′
Constellation: Scorpius
Type: Dark Nebula
A subtle, yet poetic reminder: not all beauty in the cosmos comes from light. Sometimes, it’s the shadows that tell the story.
Lights: 80x600" (LRGB)
Telescope: Planewave CDK24
Camera: FLI ProLine PL9000
Filters: LRGB Astrodon
Processed: Pixinsight
Date: 23/03/2021
21052025-Barnard 252
Barnard 252 – The Cosmic Seahorse in the Dark
follow - share - credit
www.instagram.com/ale_motta_astrofotografia
At first glance, it may look like an empty patch of space… but look again. Slithering across a rich field of stars lies Barnard 252, a dark nebula in Scorpius, sculpted by dense clouds of interstellar dust that block the starlight behind it. Also nicknamed the "Seahorse Nebula" for its shape, this silhouette reveals the raw, cold material from which stars are eventually born.
Invisible to the naked eye and completely devoid of visible glow, Barnard 252 is revealed only through long exposures that expose the contrast between darkness and stellar light. These dark nebulae are essential pieces of our galactic puzzle—harboring secrets of stellar formation in their silent, lightless embrace.
Coordinates: RA 17h 51m, Dec -30° 20′
Constellation: Scorpius
Type: Dark Nebula
A subtle, yet poetic reminder: not all beauty in the cosmos comes from light. Sometimes, it’s the shadows that tell the story.
Lights: 80x600" (LRGB)
Telescope: Planewave CDK24
Camera: FLI ProLine PL9000
Filters: LRGB Astrodon
Processed: Pixinsight
Date: 23/03/2021