Nebula

Space enthusiasts are sharing details about the Bubble Nebula, an emission nebula catalogued as NGC 7635 in the constellation Cassiopeia. Located near the open cluster Messier 52, it gets its distinctive shape from the stellar wind of a massive, hot young central star. The object, also listed as Sharpless 162 or Caldwell 11, is being celebrated as one of the more striking sights in the night sky.

An astrophotographer has shared a detailed image of Sh2-142, the Wizard Nebula, showing how intense stellar winds and radiation from the open cluster NGC 7380 sculpt dense interstellar dust pillars into a cosmic silhouette. The exposure was built from 326 thirty-second subs, processed in Astro Wizard and finished in Lightroom, drawing admiration from space and photography enthusiasts.

An amateur astrophotographer has shared a new image of the Pelican Nebula, also known as IC 5070, captured over the weekend. The emission nebula, located in the constellation Cygnus, is a popular target for backyard astronomers because of its distinctive shape. The photo has drawn engagement from the astronomy and space community, where weekend deep-sky imaging results are regularly exchanged.

American astronomer Henry Draper captured the first photograph of the Orion Nebula on September 30, 1880, a landmark moment in the history of astrophotography. Working with an 11-inch Alvan Clark refractor telescope and the then-new dry-plate photographic process, Draper succeeded in imaging the nebula from Earth for the first time. The anniversary is being noted in science and astronomy circles.

An amateur astrophotographer has released a detailed image of the Pacman Nebula (NGC 281) in the constellation Cassiopeia, compiled from nearly six hours of exposure time across multiple imaging sessions. The picture uses a pseudo-Hubble colour palette to bring out dense Bok globules against glowing hydrogen and oxygen gas, drawing attention among space and photography enthusiasts.

The James Webb Space Telescope has captured a striking image of the Pillars of Creation, towering columns of gas and dust in the Eagle Nebula that stretch light-years across. The observation shows dense structures where new stars are actively forming, and astronomy enthusiasts are sharing the image widely, marveling at the detail of star birth revealed by the telescope.

Music commentator Mic the Snare has published a rundown of the seven albums he considers personal masterpieces, released as a Nebula Plus feature. The piece walks through the records that he believes represent the highest craft in his listening life, inviting viewers to compare his picks with their own and debate what earns an album 'masterpiece' status.

Astronomy enthusiasts are sharing details about the Lagoon Nebula, also known as M8, an active star-forming region roughly 5,000 light-years from Earth in the constellation Sagittarius. The interstellar cloud is described as a complex environment shaped by high-energy radiation from massive young stars, illustrating how new stars are born within nebulae.

NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day for October 2, 2026 features the complete Sharpless catalog, a set of 313 nebulae first catalogued by astronomer Stewart Sharpless in the 1950s. The presentation compiles images of the emission nebulae, which are regions of glowing interstellar gas found mostly across the Milky Way. Astronomy enthusiasts are sharing the feature and discussing the catalog's enduring value for amateur and professional observers alike.

A newly highlighted nebula is drawing attention because its shape strikingly resembles a shark, with dark dust lanes forming what looks like fins and a body. The image is being shared and discussed among astronomy enthusiasts, who are pointing out how cosmic structures often take on recognizable, animal-like forms.

NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day for October 2, 2026 highlights the complete Sharpless Catalog, a survey of 313 emission nebulas first compiled in the 1950s. The feature presents imagery of these glowing clouds of interstellar gas, many visible only through long-exposure photography. Astronomy enthusiasts are sharing the article and images, praising the catalog's enduring value for amateur and professional stargazers.

The Tarantula Nebula, also known as 30 Doradus, is the largest and most intense star-forming region in the Local Group of galaxies. It sits roughly 160,000 light-years away in the Large Magellanic Cloud and hosts the massive star cluster R136, home to some of the most enormous known stars. Astronomy enthusiasts are sharing facts and imagery of the nebula, marvelling at its scale and the insights it offers into how stars are born.

A striking Hubble Space Telescope image of NGC 3132, known as the Eight Burst Nebula, is circulating among space enthusiasts and astrophotography communities. The planetary nebula, captured with credits to NASA, ESA, the Hubble Heritage Team, STScI and AURA, is being praised for its vivid rings of gas and its place in the ongoing wave of popular space imagery.

NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day for September 30, 2026 presents the complete Sharpless Catalog, showcasing all 313 nebulae catalogued by astronomer Stewart Sharpless in the 1950s. The image is credited to astrophotographer Bing Xin, with accompanying text by Keighley Rockcliffe of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. Space enthusiasts are sharing the composite, which highlights how amateur astrophotographers can now capture hundreds of deep-sky objects in a single project.

Astronomy enthusiasts are sharing images and details of Sh2-308, the nebula nicknamed the Dolphin Nebula. Located about 5,000 light-years away in the constellation Canis Major, the vast cosmic bubble spans roughly 60 light-years and was shaped by the intense radiation and stellar winds of a massive Wolf-Rayet star. Posts highlight its striking shape and the dramatic process by which a dying giant carves such an enormous structure into surrounding gas.

Nature photographers and birdwatchers are sharing images of the greenshank (Tringa nebularia), a wading bird known in German as Grünschenkel and in Polish as kwokacz. The posts highlight the species' slender build and long legs, and invite bird lovers across languages to compare sightings as the birdwatching community documents waders in the wild.

Amateur astronomy content showing early-morning views of Saturn, the Moon and the Horsehead Nebula is circulating among space enthusiasts. The material combines astrophotography and lunar mapping, apparently captured with simple equipment such as a smartphone, and is being shared with educational and nature-focused hashtags. Observers are engaging with the images of the ringed planet and the famous dark nebula in Orion.

An amateur astronomer has published a new astrophotograph of NGC 7635, the Bubble Nebula, together with the open cluster M52 in Cassiopeia. The image was taken in HOO bicolor from 240 exposures of 60 seconds each in hydrogen-alpha and oxygen-III, using a SkyWatcher 254/1000 telescope, QHY163M camera and EQ6-R Pro mount with guiding. Astronomy communities are sharing the result as an example of what dedicated home equipment can capture.