Most of the northern constellation of Cepheus the King, emphasizing the rich collection of bright and dark nebulas within its borders. North is up in this framing. The lower portion of the image contains the Milky Way and is rich in bright stars, emission nebulas, but also dark dust lanes that stand out easily. The brightest nebula at bottom is IC 1396, sometimes called the Elephant's Trunk Nebula, though that name applies only to a dark nebula within its boundaries. On the northern edge of IC 1396 is the orange star Mu Cephei, aka the Garnet Star for its red appearance in the eyepiece. The dark nebula to the left of IC 1396 is Barnard 169-70-71. The arc of dimmer pink nebulosity to the right of IC 1396 is Sharpless 2-129, which has come to be known as the Flying Bat Nebula. The small patch of nebulosity to the left of IC 1396 is Sharpless 2-132, the Lion Nebula. A smaller nebula above and to the left of the Lion Nebula at the left edge is NGC 7380/Sharpless 2-142, the Wizard Nebula, very small on this scale. Higher up at the left edge below centre is Sharpless 2-155, the Cave Nebula. Lots of fainter wisps of pink emission nebulosity permeate the constellation At top, well above the Milky Way, the field is yellowed by dust clouds, punctuated by bright blue reflection nebulas. At upper right, looking starlike, is NGC 7023, the Iris Nebula above a small lane of dust. At upper centre is the dusty yellow region containing the Dark Shark (aka LDN 1235) and the Wolf's Cave Nebulas (aka B175), and the blue reflection nebulas van den Bergh 150 and 152, respectively.
