You’re telling me there is something that looks like … okay #starfriends
🦑 What is the #Squid #Nebula (Ou4)?
• Discovered in 2011 by French astrophotographer Nicolas Outters.
• Nicknamed the “Squid Nebula” because of its striking, tentacle-like bipolar shape.
• Officially cataloged as Ou4.
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🌌 Appearance
• Appears in Earth’s night sky as a structure spanning 3 times the size of the full moon.
• The glowing blue color comes from doubly ionized oxygen (OIII) atoms.
• Surrounded by a larger red emission nebula, Sh2-129 (sometimes called the “Flying Bat Nebula”).
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📏 Size & Distance
• Estimated to be around 2,300 light years away, located inside Sh2-129.
• If this estimate is correct, Ou4 spans a staggering 50 light years across — making it one of the largest known outflows of its kind.
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🌟 Power Source
• Likely powered by a triple system of massive, hot stars known as HR 8119.
• These stars, located at the nebula’s center, may drive the outflow of matter that forms the squid shape.
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🔭 Scientific Importance
• The Squid Nebula is unusual because it was discovered relatively recently by an amateur astrophotographer, not a major survey telescope.
• Its origin is still not fully understood:
• Is it a planetary nebula? (from a dying star)
• Or a giant outflow linked to massive star winds or interactions?
• Further spectroscopy and distance measurements are ongoing to confirm its nature.
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📸 Credits
• The striking image of Ou4 was captured by #Alex #Linde
• It combines multiple filters to isolate the light from hydrogen and oxygen emissions, highlighting the squid-like form.
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✨ Hashtags for Sharing
#Astronomy #Astrophotography #SquidNebula #Nebula #Stars #Cosmos