Waves of the Great Lacerta Nebula

Why isn't it better known? The Great Lacerta Nebula can be seen towards the constellation of the lizard. The emission nebula is difficult to see with a wide-field binoculars because it is so small, but also difficult to see with a large telescope because it is so large. The Sharpless 126 can be viewed and appreciated with a long duration camera exposure. There was a combined exposure of 10 hours over five different colors and six nights at the IC Astronomy Observatory in Spain. The hydrogen gas in the Great Lacerta Nebula is red because it is excited by light from a bright blue star. The stars are a long way from us.

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Explanation: For northern hemisphere dwellers, September's Full Moon was the Harvest Moon. Reflecting warm hues at sunset it rises over the historic town of Castiglione di Sicilia in this telephoto view from September 9. Famed in festival, story, and song Harvest Moon is just the traditional name of the full moon nearest the autumnal equinox. According to lore the name is a fitting one. Despite the diminishing daylight hours as the growing season drew to a close, farmers could harvest crops by the light of a full moon shining on from dusk to dawn.