Dark Shark Nebula (LDN 1235)

[Bill Richards]

The "Dark Shark Nebula" (aka LDN 1235) is a dark/reflection nebula made up of interstellar dust which is so thick it hides most of the light from behind it. Just behind the dorsal fin, you can see a distant spiral galaxy (PGC67671).

This is the result of 6-1/4 hours of exposure time taken on 2025-10-19.

Equipment and Software:
=======================
Mount: 10Micron GM1000HPS w/PoleMaster
Telescope: SkyWatcher Esprit 100ED
Auto-Focuser: Pegasus FocusCube2
Imaging Camera: ASI2600MC-Duo
Guide Camera: ASI2600MC-Duo
Imaging S/W: NINA
Guiding S/W: PHD2
Image Processing S/W: PixInsight

Exposure Details:
=================
Camera Temperature -15C
Bias: 50
Gain: 100
125 x 180s
Plus 32x Darks, Flats, and Dark Flats

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[Comet Hunter]

Outstanding

 

[JimFox]

This is so awesome Bill! Love the detail in the nebulosity and how you maintained the depth.

I tried to capture that a month ago, but my problem was the framing, I couldn't see the Dark Shark at all on my Preview images, so I couldn't tell if I had it framed properly or not.

What did you use for a filter?

 

[Bill Richards]

This is so awesome Bill! Love the detail in the nebulosity and how you maintained the depth.

I tried to capture that a month ago, but my problem was the framing, I couldn't see the Dark Shark at all on my Preview images, so I couldn't tell if I had it framed properly or not.

What did you use for a filter?

Hi Jim,

I couldn't see it in a single exposure, either. I used Stellarium to get the framing that I wanted and did a rough camera rotation to get close. Then I did a fine rotation to match the star pattern in Stellarium and let it fly.

No filter - dark nebulas are, well, dark. Filters are only useful for emission nebulas when you are trying to capture hydrogen, sulfur, and/or oxygen emissions. Reflection nebulas and dark nebulas are best captured with no filter.

Bill