LDN 1183 - Dark Nebula in Cepheus

LDN 1183 (Lynds Dark Nebula 1183) is a dark nebula located in the constellation Cepheus, a region of the sky rich in interstellar dust and star-forming zones. It is located approximately 3,000 light-years away and is part of the extensive Cepheus Molecular Complex, a vast cloud of cold gas and dust where new stars are born. Dark nebulae like LDN 1183 do not emit their own light: their density is so high that they block the light from background stars and nebulae, appearing as opaque silhouettes against the starry sky. The interstellar dust that composes them is made up of microscopic particles of silicate, carbon, and organic compounds—the same ingredients from which planets, and ultimately life, formed. At infrared wavelengths, these regions reveal their true nature: within them, gravity can concentrate gas and dust, initiating the collapse that will give rise to new stars. LDN 1183 is an example of how the apparent darkness of the cosmos is, in reality, a seedbed of future light. Data obtained from my backyard in San Justo de la Vega, between July 26 and October 11, 2025. Equipment: Sky-Watcher 200PDS Telescope Camera: ZWO ASI 533MC Pro Sky-Watcher NEQ6 R Mount Lunatico EZG60 Guiding Kit + ZWO ASI 220MM Mini Orion 0.85x Reducer/Corrector 2" Optolong QuadEnhancen filter. ASIair Plus Data: RGB: 132x300" -10ºC