An expanding shell of gases after a supernova explosion about 8,000 years ago, it is so-called because of the drape-like filaments of gases that comprise it. Taken in the dark skies of Algonquin Park during the new moon of September 2022.

You can see the red filaments of Hydrogen gas and blue filaments of Oxygen gas intertwining here. This nebula is in the Cygnus (“swan”) constellation and spans about 110 light years in width. It is as big as six full moons in the night sky but you won’t see it with the naked eye.

Each of its pieces has a colorful name: at the top you have the Western Veil with the bright star (aka, “The Witch’s Broom”), at the bottom the Eastern Veil, and at the top-left you have Pickering’s Triangle. I have attempted this target from Toronto but you just don’t get the same detail from a light-polluted sky. Algonquin is super dark.

Glorious.