LDN 183 (also known as L183 or MBM 37) is a cold, dense dark nebula and molecular cloud located in the constellation Serpens Cauda. It is one of the closest molecular clouds to Earth, with distance estimates ranging from approximately 325 to 360 light-years.
In deep-sky photography, LDN 183 appears as a dark silhouette or “hole” against the background stars of the Milky Way. It is often imaged alongside faint Integrated Flux Nebulae (IFN), which are illuminated by the combined light of the galaxy. The bright binary star Mu Serpentis is frequently found in the same field of view. It is classified as a pre-stellar core, meaning it is a dense accumulation of gas and dust in the early stages of collapsing to form stars.
I photographed this nebula from my driveway in the hills of western North Carolina the nights of 3/20 and 4/10. Very few clear skies this spring. 82 subframes at 360s each taken with an ASI2600MC camera and Skywatcher Esprit 120ED scope. Imaged with APT and processed with PixInsight.
Astrobin link for the details!
