Here is Lynd’s Dark Nebula 43 – aka “The Cosmic Bat” – winging its way through the constellation Ophiuchus.

It lies about 14000 ly away and the bat’s wingspan is about 12 ly across.

Here and there are clutches of newborn stars illuminating the dust around them.

PlaneWave 12.5″ Astrograph with a ZWO ASI6200 camera, Astrodon filters, and ASA gearless DDM-85 mount. F/8 LRGB (30/8 min L, 12/8min each 2×2 RGB).