Sh2-231 through Sh2-235 form an extended complex of ionized hydrogen clouds in the Perseus Arm of the Milky Way, one of the Galaxy’s major spiral arms beyond the Sun’s orbit. These Sharpless regions are emission nebulae where ultraviolet radiation from young, massive stars strips electrons from hydrogen atoms, causing the gas to glow strongly in Hα light. The brighter knots mark active and recent star formation, while the softer, more diffuse structures trace gas shaped by stellar winds and radiation over millions of years.

This deep view reveals the layered texture of the complex, with dark dust lanes cutting across luminous red emission and creating a sense of depth against the background star field. Captured from Cork City, Ireland, the image highlights both the scientific richness and visual elegance of this outer-galaxy region, showing how large-scale star-forming environments connect individual nebulae into a coherent galactic structure.