Sh2-205 is a large, reddish H II region. It is a cloud of interstellar gas and dust where stars are forming. It is located on the border of the constellations Camelopardalis and Perseus. Within Sh2-205 is LBN 696, the big round ball of gas in the center of the image.
Also known as the “Peanut Nebula,” it is approximately 3,200 light-years from Earth and spans about 100 light-years across. It’s not often that the entire frame is filled with various gases. In this case, there’s really no background “sky”. It’s entirely nebulae.
Additionally, it is a faint nebula. Long exposure times are needed to image it. Its brightest part is a peanut-shaped area. I’m guessing the round bit in the middle is the “peanut”. The bright round ball in the center of the photograph is LBN 696. The image encompasses about half of the much larger Sh2-205 nebula.
This image contains 163 5 minute subframes acquired over three nights using APT for session control and automation. Subframe calibration, alignment, integration, and processing with PixInsight. Astrobin link for acquisition details and annotated image.
