Astrophotographer Greg Meyer captured a stunning image of a nebula that looks like a raging baboon. In this incredible scene, the mouth and face of the cosmic creature are shaped by a massive cloud of dust, located about 500 light-years away from Earth in the constellation Corona Australis. The nebula’s blue eyes are created by glowing blue reflection nebulas.
This area is often called the Rampaging Baboon Nebula for its resemblance to a mandrill’s colorful face. Just off to the right, you can see the globular cluster NGC 6723, 30,000 light-years away, filled with hundreds of thousands of stars.
Meyer took this image over 13 nights in June, July, and August using an Esprit 120mm telescope and a QHY 268M astronomy camera. In total, he spent 16.5 hours capturing the faint light of this majestic nebula. After filming, he edited the image with tools like Photoshop and Lightroom.
“I saw some faint oxygen images, but I kept trying until I got the best result,” Meyer shared. His patience paid off, revealing the nebula’s stunning details.
Such striking astrophotography captures the imagination of many. Recent surveys show that interest in stargazing and astronomical photography is booming, particularly among younger audiences. Events like International Observe the Moon Night and the Perseid meteor shower attract thousands of enthusiasts each year.
If you’re curious about capturing the beauty of the universe yourself, consider checking out credible sources like the NASA website for tips and updates on upcoming celestial events.
