Hundertwasser-Corner: Nebulae that appear to be created using a ruler

Why should nebulae always be round and curvy? The presented 16°×20° view shows two objects that appear to be created using a ruler. The nebulae can be found at a high galactic latitude (about 42°) on the border between the constellations Aquarius and Pegasus.

Click on the image to load a high resolution version using a JavaScript viewer.

Hundertwasser-Corner: Nebulae that appear to be created using a ruler
In that image, Hα was added to the red channel of a true-color continuum image, i.e. reflection nebulae appear gray and emission nebulae appear red. Stars are partially subtracted to make the faint nebulae visible.

The reflection nebulae are part of the galactic cirrus (also known as Integrated Flux Nebulae or IFN). It is unclear how the two straight lines of the structure at the bottom were created.

The box shaped emission nebula (red) is most likely ionized by π Aqr, a Be Star in a distance of about 340 pc (Gaia DR3).

Image data

This image was calculated using data from the Northern Sky Narrowband Survey, DR0.1. Click the link for detailed information or visit the instruments page for information about the equipment. Here is some additional image-specific information:

Center position: RA: 22:06h, DEC: 3°
FOV: 20°×16° (RA×DEC, through center)
Orientation: JavaScript viewer: North is up
Above: North is right
Scale: 10 arcsec/pixel (in center at full resolution)
Projection type: Stereographic

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