van den Bergh Reflection Nebula 139
Lynd's Dark Nebulae 1172, 1173, & 1174
Exposure: L = 120 min 1x1, RGB = 75 min 2x2
Date: May 27 - June 2, 2008. Reprocessed Oct. 16. 2010.
Comments: NGC 7023 is the cluster of brightest stars in the upper right (not the nebulosity). Their light, illuminating the dark cloud behind them, creates this 'reflection nebula' which is called vdB 139. There are several dark spots in the cloud - the darkest of which have been included in the Lynd Dark Nebula catalog as numbers 1172 - 1174.
© Don Scott 2008
The Holin A. Grotch Observatory