This deep image shows LBN 437, also known as “The Gecko Nebula”, a beautiful combination of reflection and dark nebulae in the constellation Lacerta, at an approximate distance of 1,200 light-years. The characteristic gecko-like shape is formed by dense filaments of interstellar dust associated with the Lacerta OB1 star-forming region.
The bluish tones come from starlight scattered by fine dust grains, while the faint reddish glow surrounding the nebula reveals very low surface brightness H-alpha emission. To record these subtle hydrogen structures around the main reflection nebula, I devoted many hours of integration under dark skies and carefully processed the data to balance the bright core, the dark filaments and the extremely faint emission.
Technical details:
– Telescope: SkyWatcher Esprit 150 with 0.77× reducer
– Mount:Paramount ME
– Camera: QHY268M
– Filters: LRGB + Hα
Exposure:
– Luminance: 120 × 300 s
– R, G, B: 50 × 300 s each channel
– H-alpha: 120 × 300 s
Calibration frames: darks, bias, flats and darkflats
Processing: PixInsight, with final adjustments in Photoshop
Location:Ager, Spain
Dates of acquisition: October and November 2025