Stirling Astronomical Society Gallery

The Tulip Nebula (SH 2-101) in Cygnus is an emission nebula and is one of the Sharpless objects. Approximately 6000 light years from the Earth, the nebula is approximately 70 light years across. Surrounded by filaments of Hydrogen gas, the Tulip Nebula is energised by ultraviolet emissions from nearby OB stars. The X-Ray source Cygnus X-1 is just to the right of the lower edge of the nebula, and the bright star to the right of the image is η Cygni.