Cosmos Sh2-129/OU4
Sh2-129 (R.A.: 21h 12m 20.24s, Dec: +60º 02’ 15.1”) is a Bright Nebula of Visual Magnitude 10 in the constellation Cepheus at a distance of 9318 lightyears from Earth. It is one of the many beautiful H-alpha emitting objects that can be found in the Sharpless catalogue. The nebula is also known as Flying Bat Nebula. Interestingly, at the heart of the nebula, there is another nebula located, often referred to as Flying Squid Nebula (Ou4). This OIII emitting nebula was only recently discovered by the French amateur astrophotographer Nicolas Outters in 2011. Recent research seems to indicate that Ou4 is indeed located within Sh2-129. It is assumed that the nebula is getting it’s energy from a strong outflow from HR8119, a triple star system right in the middle of the Flying Squid Nebula.