LDN 1251 - Rotten Fish Nebula LRGB

LDN (Lynds Dark Nebula) 1251, also known as the Rotten Fish Nebula, is a dark nebula located about 1,000 light-years away in the constellation Cepheus. It is a prime location for star formation, thanks to the process of energy trapping that allows it to reach the temperature and pressure conditions necessary for nuclear fusion. The elongated shape of LDN 1251 is likely linked to its interaction with a nearby supernova.

The object is part of the Cepheus Star Formation Region, an area rich in molecular clouds, young, energetic, blue stars, and, indeed, dark nebulae where other stars are forming. There are about 200 nebulae in this region, observable in visible or infrared light.