Amid the bright hydrogen glow of the Cygnus constellation, a menacing dark nebula takes the shape of a wolf mid-prowl. Known informally as Fenrir the Dark Wolf, this region of the sky is dominated by intricate filaments of ionized hydrogen (Ha) gas, illuminated in vivid red through over 11 hours of narrowband exposure. The dark “wolf” shape is formed by dense dust clouds that obscure the bright emission behind them, creating the illusion of a celestial predator on the hunt.

This HaLRGB composition was captured under Bortle 6 skies with a total integration time exceeding 21 hours, combining deep luminance and RGB channels to balance detail and color. The result is a rich tapestry of contrast and structure, with subtle background stars peppering the cosmic canvas. A haunting example of pareidolia in the interstellar medium, Fenrir waits in the shadows of Cygnus.