Saturday, Aug 31, 2024

This 3-part mosaic covers a spectacular region of the constellation Vulpecula and was a very enjoyable summer project: the 'Coathanger Cluster,' the 'Loch Ness Nebula,' and many more LDNs and LBNs, which seem to float on an endless sea of stars. The 'Coathanger Cluster' (also known as Brocchi's Cluster or Collinder 399) is an asterism of 10 stars. Of these, 6 stars appear to be lined up, but it is believed that the stars are not gravitationally bound to each other. Several LDNs and LBNs (LBN 133 & 134, LDN 768, 769, 772, 773, 774, 775, 779) form the dark nebula structures that stand out against the starry backdrop and resemble the shape of the 'Loch Ness Monster.'"