LDN43 Cosmic Bat Nebula

LDN 43 — The Cosmic Bat Nebula

In the direction of distant Ophiuchus, about 1,400 light-years from Earth, floats a dark nebula named LDN 43. Its silhouette — a bat with outstretched wings — has earned it the romantic name "Cosmic Bat Nebula".

This vast dust cloud, some 12 light-years long, hangs like a heavy curtain: it blots out the starlight behind it and even blocks the glow of the neighboring reflection nebula LBN 7, deepening its air of mystery.

More captivating still, this is a stellar nursery. Within the dense gas, newborn stars are taking shape, their birth lighting the surrounding clouds with a faint but moving glow. Multi-wavelength imaging has revealed further details — cometary nebulae lit by young stars, and background galaxies as far as 400 million light-years away.

The Cosmic Bat reminds us: even in the deepest darkness, the universe is quietly kindling new light and new life.

ASA 500N
FLI Proline 16803
ASA DDM85
Astrodon 50mm RGBHa
Lx10, 600s; Rx8, Gx8, Bx8, Hax8, 1200s
Total integration time: 12h20m
Location: ChileScope