Barnard 72
The Snake Nebula


Combination of 5, 3 minute exposures, SBIG ST9XE CCD camera.
300mm f/6 newtonian telescope at prime focus.

E. E. Barnard pioneered the use of wide field photography of the Milky Way. As part of his research, he catalogued numerous dark nebulae, particularly in the Scorpius/Sagittarius region. One of the more curious nebulae he photographed was B72, more commonly known as the Snake Nebula. This object is visible in a 10" telescope as a very faint darkening, however the "S" shape that gives the object its name, is really only apparent in photographs.