The Shark Nebula

LDN 1235, nicknamed the "Shark Nebula," is a dark nebula from the LDN catalog, located in the constellation Cepheus. Its exact distance remains uncertain: many sources cite around 650 light-years, while other studies place associated structures around 330—370 parsecs (≈ 1,075—1,200 light-years). Its shark-evoking silhouette stands out by contrast against the rich star field of the Milky Way.

A dark nebula consists of interstellar dust and cold gases that absorb and scatter the light from background stars; LDN 1235 therefore does not shine by itself and appears mainly as dark bands with sinuous contours.

To reveal the delicate structures, astrophotography relies on dark skies and long exposures in order to accumulate enough signal and bring out the faint contrast of the dust.