PHOTOGRAPH #29 · nebulae
Lionhead Nebula
Randal Healey · Utahopia Observatory
SH2-132 A large emission nebula located between the border of the Cepheus and Lacerta constellations.
If you’ve never heard of it before, as most haven’t, don’t feel too bad. SH2-132 might be large, but it’s rather faint and obscure; It’s still somewhat easy to find. It lurks in close proximity to three distinct stars—Epsilon, Zeta Cephei and Delta—arranged in a triangle-formation. The nebula is about 1.0 degree from Epsilon, which forms a straight line with SH2-132 and Zeta.
SH2-132’s appears to belong to the Cepheus OB1 association, which also boasts one of the largest known stars in existence: an orange hypergiant known as RW Cephei. There’s a chance they are merely in the same field of view. What’s known is that two objects—Wolf-Rayet stars known as WR 152 and WR 153 respectively—do most of the ionization. Several other OB-type stars are scattered about.
Sh2-132 is located at a distance of almost 3200 parsecs (nearly 10400 light years ), thus placing itself inside the Arm of Perseus.
Original description & acquisition details ↗If you’ve never heard of it before, as most haven’t, don’t feel too bad. SH2-132 might be large, but it’s rather faint and obscure; It’s still somewhat easy to find. It lurks in close proximity to three distinct stars—Epsilon, Zeta Cephei and Delta—arranged in a triangle-formation. The nebula is about 1.0 degree from Epsilon, which forms a straight line with SH2-132 and Zeta.
SH2-132’s appears to belong to the Cepheus OB1 association, which also boasts one of the largest known stars in existence: an orange hypergiant known as RW Cephei. There’s a chance they are merely in the same field of view. What’s known is that two objects—Wolf-Rayet stars known as WR 152 and WR 153 respectively—do most of the ionization. Several other OB-type stars are scattered about.
Sh2-132 is located at a distance of almost 3200 parsecs (nearly 10400 light years ), thus placing itself inside the Arm of Perseus.
Choose medium & size ↗
Every order includes a personally signed certificate of authenticity and print number. Image proportions and suitable print sizes are confirmed before production.