Stargazer Captures Striking Nebula View (Photo)

Bill Snyder captured Sh2-112 Sharpless on July 29, 2012 from his home observatory in Connellsville, Pa. He used a TMB130mm telescope equipped with an Apogee U8300 camera, as well as an Atlas EQG mount and several filters to view SH2-112. The total exposure time to capture this image was more than 18 hours. (Image credit: Bill Snyder Astrophotography)

A veteran stargazer and photographer captured this spectacular image of emission nebula Sh2-112 Sharpless.

Astrophotographer Bill Snyder captured this image from his home observatory in Connellsville Pa. Snyder used a TMB130mm telescope equipped with an Apogee U8300 camera, as well as an Atlas EQG mount and several filters to view SH2-112. The total exposure time to capture this image was more than 18 hours during a July 29 observing session.

Sharpless 2-112, also called LBN 337, is an emission nebula about 5,600 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cygnus. The red glow is caused by the bright star BD+45 3216, which is about 30 times larger than our own sun. The star is so bright it releases light mostly in the ultraviolet range.

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Nina Sen is a freelance writer and producer who covered night sky photography and astronomy for Space.com. She began writing and producing content for Space.com in 2011 with a focus on story and image production, as well as amazing space photos captured by NASA telescopes and other missions. Her work also includes coverage of amazing images by astrophotographers that showcase the night sky's beauty.