Wizard Nebula
The Wizard Nebula is designated as Sh2-142 and is named for the darker areas within it having the appearance of a wizard looking to the left with open hands spread at waist height as if casting a spell on the bright stars to the right of the nebula. This picture combines two colors of nebula that are caused by glowing hydrogen and Oxygen excited gases.
Copyright Mark E. Johnston Creative Commons license by-nc-nd