The Dark Shark

The Dark Shark Nebula (LDN 1235) is a dense molecular cloud located about 650 light-years away in the constellation Cepheus, spanning roughly 15 light-years. Composed primarily of microscopic interstellar dust and gas, this nebula blocks visible starlight and appears as a distinct silhouette against a field of stars. LDN 1235 contains active star-forming regions, faint blue reflection nebulae illuminated by young B-type stars, and even exhibits faint red emission from ionized hydrogen and dust photoluminescence.