LDN 204: A Dark Cloud in Ophiuchus

Image Title: LDN 204 – A DARK CLOUD LOCATED IN THE OPHIUCHUS CONSTELLATION

Copyright: New image acquired between June and July by all members of @n_kuadra, with the collaboration of our colleague and friend @solergrajera, consisting of a 3x1 tile mosaic.

The LDN 204 nebula is a dark molecular cloud, which means it is a region of the interstellar space with a high concentration of gas and dust. It is known as a stellar nursery, where stars form from the collapse of gas and dust.
This particular nebula is interesting because it is relatively close to us, about 450 light-years away. This allows us to study it in great detail.
Several protostars have been found in LDN 204, which are stars in their early formation stages. One of them is IRS 4, a young protostar surrounded by a disk of gas and dust, where planets could potentially be forming.

Date image was taken: July 26, 2025

Location: Moratalla, Murcia (Spain)

Data Acquisition Method: Personal Telescope Setup

Description and Details: Data / Equipment :
Eq6r pro + Wave 150i + Heq5 pro
Esprit ED100 + Esprit ED80 + Askar FRA 400
Zwo 2600mm + Zwo 294mm + Zwo 294mc

L: 663x120” (22h 6’)
RGB: 567x120” (18h 54’)
Ha: 420x300” (35h)
TOTAL INTEGRATION: 76h

Name: N-Kuadra Astrophotography and Alberto Soler

Website or Facebook Profile: http://astrobin.com/users/@astroumbralico