An astrophotographer has produced a detailed new image of a distant nebula that bears a striking resemblance to the face of a baboon. The cosmic structure, located approximately 500 light-years from Earth, required more than 16 hours of observation time to capture.
The image, taken by astrophotographer Greg Meyer, showcases a region of space informally known as the Rampaging Baboon Nebula. This area is situated in the constellation Corona Australis and is composed of vast clouds of molecular dust and glowing reflection nebulas.
Key Takeaways
- Astrophotographer Greg Meyer captured a high-resolution image of a nebula nicknamed the "Rampaging Baboon Nebula."
- The nebula is located 500 light-years away in the constellation Corona Australis.
- The image required 16.5 hours of total observation time collected over 13 nights from a Texas observatory.
- The nebula's features are formed by molecular dust clouds and blue reflection nebulas that create the illusion of a baboon's face.
A Cosmic Portrait in a Distant Constellation
A new photograph reveals a celestial object whose shape has earned it the nickname the Rampaging Baboon Nebula. The image, captured in 2025, highlights features that appear to form the face of a primate, specifically a Mandrill, in the depths of space.
The nebula's distinct outline is created by a massive cloud of molecular dust. This cloud forms the structure of the simian's mouth and face. The illusion is completed by two glowing blue reflection nebulas, which appear as the creature's eyes.
This cosmic formation is located within the constellation Corona Australis. According to astronomical data, the dust cloud that makes up the nebula is situated approximately 500 light-years from our solar system.
What is a Reflection Nebula?
A reflection nebula is a cloud of interstellar dust that does not produce its own light. Instead, it shines by reflecting the light from nearby stars. The light scattered by the dust is often blue, which is why the "eyes" of the Baboon Nebula have a distinct blue glow.
The Technical Process Behind the Image
The detailed photograph is the result of a meticulous and lengthy process undertaken by astrophotographer Greg Meyer. He captured the scene from the Starfront Observatory located in Texas, using specialized equipment designed for deep-space imaging.
The project spanned three months, with data collected over 13 separate nights during June, July, and August. Meyer dedicated a total of 16.5 hours of observation time to gather enough light from the faint object to create a clear image.
Equipment and Technique
To capture the ancient light from the nebula, Meyer used an Esprit 120mm telescope paired with a QHY 268M astronomy camera. This combination is designed to detect faint celestial objects with high sensitivity.
"I saw images with some oxygen, but OMG it [was] faint," Meyer explained. "I kept shooting, and finally said enough. My scope is f7, so even with 200 x 10 min [exposures] the oxygen was faint, so I did my best to bring it out a little for some contrast."
After collecting the raw data, Meyer used several software programs, including Photoshop, Lightroom, and Pixinsight, to process the final image. This post-processing work was essential to enhance the faint details and bring out the contrasting colors of the nebula.
Capturing Deep Space
- Total Exposure Time: 16.5 hours
- Number of Nights: 13
- Telescope Used: Esprit 120mm
- Camera: QHY 268M
- Observatory Location: Texas, USA
A Crowded Celestial Neighborhood
Meyer's wide-field image not only captures the Baboon Nebula but also includes other significant deep-space objects. Visible in the upper right portion of the photograph is the globular cluster NGC 6723.
This dense collection of stars is much farther away than the nebula. According to astronomical measurements, NGC 6723 is located approximately 30,000 light-years from Earth. This means it is about 60 times more distant than the Baboon Nebula itself.
Globular clusters like NGC 6723 are ancient structures, containing hundreds of thousands, and sometimes millions, of old stars packed tightly together by gravity. Its inclusion in the frame provides a sense of the vast scale and depth of the universe.
The striking contrast in distance between the nebula and the cluster highlights the three-dimensional nature of the cosmos, where objects that appear close together in the sky can be separated by immense distances.