Deep Sky Object in Summer
Around Pipe Nebula to Antares

Click on image to enlarge

Date & Time: Jun 27 2025, from 23:19 to 25:15 JST(+0900)
Mosaic of 2 flames of 6min.×10shots
Optical: AF zoom-Nikkor 80-200mmF2.8ED (f=890mm, stop: F4.0)
with IDAS LPS-D1 Light-pollution suppression filter
Auto-guided with Kenko SKYMEMO S Equatorial
CMOS Camera: ZWO ASI2600MC Pro (Cooled temp.: -8°C)
Location: Furudono town, Fukushima pref.

Camera Settings: Recording format...16bit FITS, converted to 16bit TIFF(6248×4176)
Device Size...23.5×15.7mm, Gain...100


LDN1773 / Dark Nebula, type 6 Ir
R.A.17h 30m (rough position)
Dec.-26° (rough position)
Apparent Size420'×120'
Real Size73-85 light yrs.
Magnitude-
Distance600-700 light yrs.
Othe IDsB 59, 65-67, 78
B 44 / Dark Nebula, type 5 Ir
R.A.16h 40m 36.0s (2000.0)
Dec.-24°11' 22" (2000.0)
Apparent Size32.0×10.0'
Real SizeN/A
Magnitude-
DistanceN/A
When photographing the western edge of the summer Milky Way, around Antares (α Scorpii) in the constellation Scorpius, using a standard to medium-telephoto lens, you can clearly see the complex entanglement of dark nebulae. Particularly striking is a dense, dark stream extending about 10 degrees from the Milky Way toward Antares. This stream contains several cataloged dark nebulae such as B44, and its western tip glows faintly blue-white, illuminated by the light of ρ Ophiuchi. This section is designated as the reflection nebulae IC 4603-4, although these are actually just small parts of this massive dark nebula complex.
Around Antares, there are also other colorful nebulae such as IC 4605, IC 4606, and Sh2-9, which display vivid red and orange hues, making this region one of the most beautiful subjects for astrophotography in the entire sky.
In the lower left of the image, you can see a huge, elongated mass of dark nebula stretching east to west. It spans about 7 degrees across the sky, with a physical length of 70 to 80 light-years. Under good sky conditions, its shape can be clearly seen even with binoculars. Due to its distinctive shape, it is commonly known as the "Pipe Nebula". Because of its large size, multiple numbers are assigned to it in the well-known "Barnard Catalog" of dark nebulae. When referring to the entire Pipe Nebula, the catalog number "LDN 1773" is generally used. Just north of the Pipe Nebula lies the unique shaped Snake Nebula, Barnard 72 (B72).

Objects around Pipe Nebula to Antares Objects around Pipe Nebula to Antares



Celestial bodies around Galactic center
Pipe nebula & surrounding area

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