Rare Nebula Spotted Over UAE Skies in Breakthrough Deep-Sky Observation

UAE astronomers capture rare high-resolution image of the Crescent Nebula from the eastern mountains, marking a milestone in local deep-sky astrophotography

In a remarkable celestial sighting, the Crescent Nebula—an enormous cosmic bubble of ionized gas located in the Cygnus constellation—was successfully captured in high-resolution imagery by members of the Emirates Astronomy Society (EAS).

The observation was made in the eastern mountainous regions of the UAE, marking a significant milestone for Emirati astrophotographers navigating the country’s challenging summer climate.

Advertisement

Known formally as NGC 6888, or Caldwell 27–Sharpless 105, the Crescent Nebula lies approximately 5,000 light-years away from Earth. The nebula owes its formation to the intense stellar winds emitted by the Wolf-Rayet star WR 136, which slammed into material previously shed during the star’s red giant phase.

“The image was captured over ten continuous hours using advanced imaging techniques,” said Tamim Al Tamimi, a member of EAS and the astronomical photographer behind the observation. “Despite high nighttime temperatures in the desert, we persevered to photograph this beautiful, faint nebula in sharp detail.”

Chairman of the Emirates Astronomy Society, Ibrahim Al Jarwan, emphasized the scientific significance of the sighting. “This is a triumph for deep-sky astrophotography in the UAE,” he told the Emirates News Agency (WAM).

“We used narrowband filters—H-alpha and O3—to isolate specific wavelengths emitted by hydrogen and oxygen atoms. These were later processed in the HOO (Hubble-palette) scientific color mode to highlight the different chemical elements within the nebula.”

The astrophotography setup included a cooled ZWO ASI183MM Pro monochrome camera paired with an Explore Scientific 152mm David H. Levy Comet Hunter Maksutov-Newtonian telescope.

The equipment was mounted on an iOptron HAE43 equatorial mount, guided with ASIAir Plus technology. Image post-processing was conducted using PixInsight and Adobe Photoshop.

Advertisement

The Crescent Nebula’s ethereal structure, resembling a luminous wave, becomes visible only with long-exposure imaging using narrowband filters. It’s rarely observed in such clarity from regions with high atmospheric dust and heat—making this achievement all the more notable.

According to Jarwan, this success highlights the growing capabilities of Emirati astronomers and the UAE’s commitment to scientific exploration beyond Earth’s atmosphere.

“Our astrophotographers face unique environmental challenges, with temperatures during observation sessions reaching up to 40°C at night. Yet their dedication continues to produce world-class astronomical data.”

The observation has sparked widespread interest in the UAE’s astronomy community, inspiring amateur stargazers and experts alike to invest more effort in capturing deep-sky phenomena, despite the country’s arid environment.

With plans to conduct future deep-sky observations during cooler months, the EAS is now encouraging public participation in upcoming astrophotography workshops and telescope training sessions.

As one of the most visually captivating nebulae in the night sky, the Crescent Nebula is now not just a distant object catalogued in global star charts—it is a symbol of the UAE’s growing presence in the realm of cosmic discovery.

This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members

admin

Read More

Abu Dhabi offers early violation payment facilities, discounts

The General Command of the Abu Dhabi Police recently took to their social media account to share some important details for the drivers of the area

Dubai’s Dynamic Parking Tariffs Drive Shift Toward Public Transport

Rising private parking fees and higher hourly rates at RTA parking zones have made driving less viable, especially in busy areas like Deira and Al Ras. Consequently, more residents and business owners are opting for metro and bus travel instead

Abu Dhabi Police officers receive prestigious ACTAR international accreditation

Nine (9) experts from the Traffic and Patrol Directorate officials of the Central Operations Sector in the General Command of Abu Dhabi Police

Recent

Dubai Unveils 3D-Printed, Solar-Powered Rail Bus for Smart Urban Transport

The RTA introduced the futuristic Rail Bus at the World Government Summit 2025 in Madinat Jumeirah. Aimed at boosting connectivity and sustainability, this innovative transport system aligns with Dubai’s vision to become the world’s smartest city

Dy. PM Ernest Hilarie attends different social activities

Ernest Hilaire, Deputy Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, attended many social activities in the last week as a part to enahance interaction with General publc.

UAE: Man who altered car meter asked to pay back Dh115,000 to buyer

A man in the United Arab Emirates who changed his car meter to lessen the mileage prior to selling it to a woman in Abu Dhabi for a high price has been ordered by the court to return her the Dh115,000 that she paid for buying the car.
admin