Sh2 -174, The Valentine Rose nebula, is an unusual ancient planetary nebula visible in the constellation of Cepheus. A planetary nebula is created when a low-mass star blows off its outer layers at the end of its life. The core of the star remains and is called a white dwarf. Usually the white dwarf can be found very near the center of the planetary nebula. But in the case of Sh2-174 it off to the left. (PK120+18.1 is the very blue star near the center of the blue gas). This asymmetry is due to the planetary nebula’s interaction with the interstellar medium that surrounds it.
Sh2-174 ranks as the most northern Sharpless objects at 81 degrees north.
