The Clamshell Nebula — Sh2-119 in Cygnus

Image Title: The Clamshell Nebula in Ha and Oiii

Copyright: Apoorva Iyer

Date image was taken: September 09, 2025

Location: Starfront Remote Observatories, Brady, Texas

Data Acquisition Method: Remote Observatory (Commercial)

Description and Details: Nestled in the southern constellation Scorpius, about 5,500 light-years from Earth, the Clamshell Nebula (Sh2-119) comes alive in this deep-space portrait. I captured over 68 hours of OSC dual narrowband data using my Celestron RASA 8 telescope paired with my ZWO ASI2600MC Pro camera. This is my first long-integration from Starfront. A personal milestone that reflects countless nights under clear skies and my love for NINA.
The image bursts with the nebula's vibrant crimson glow, where I’ve captured hydrogen emissions painting swirling tendrils of gas and dust in vivid reds, mimicking the organic curves of an unfolding clamshell. At its heart, I’ve saw a striking luminous pocket of ionized oxygen glowing boldly against the surrounding scarlet haze. Dark, filamentary lanes of interstellar dust, carved shadowy silhouettes through the nebula’s expanse like veins of ink in the cosmic watercolor, while faint stars speckled the frame like distant fireflies.

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