This bizarre object is a cometary globule. It stirs your imagination with its color and form. Perhaps a sea monster surging up from the depths to devour a galaxy. The strong green color is apparently from doubly ionized oxygen lines at 4959 and 5007 Angstroms. It lies only about 1300 ly away in Puppis but its low surface brightness makes it a challenge to image and process.
What is happening here? The head of the globule has been ruptured by the outpouring of energy from stars above it (beyond the limits of the image).
PlaneWave 12.5″ Astrograph with an ST11000 camera, Astrodon filters, and ASA gearless DDM-85 mount. F/5 LRGB (35/8min L, 6/8min each 2×2 RGB).