IC 1318

The Gamma Cygni Nebula, often called the Butterfly, is an emission cloud surrounding the star Sadr in Cygnus, the Swan. Sadr is actually not in the nebula; it is much closer to us and simply lies in the same part of the sky. The nebula is about 3,700 light years distant and is part of a very large complex of hydrogen clouds in the Orion arm of the Milky Way.

Image taken over several nights in early November, 2009, with the ST-8 camera and the 135mm Nikkor lens. 90 minutes exposure.