Monday, Sep 29, 2025

Sharpless 126 (Sh2-126) is a large emission nebula in Lacerta, which appears in this image as a red background. The source of its ionisation is the intense ultraviolet radiation from the star 10 Lacertae, a blue main sequence star. This region, with its faint nebular filaments, is part of Lacerta OB1, a giant star-forming region about 1200 light-years from Earth. The reflection nebula LBN 437 lies near the emission nebula SH2-126. Also known as the Gecko Nebula due to its bizarre shape, it is curiously located within the constellation of the Lizard.