The Wolf Cave Nebula, also known as Wolf’s Cave Nebula, is a striking region of interstellar dust and gas in the constellation Cepheus, primarily cataloged as LDN 1217 and associated with objects such as Van den Bergh 152 (VdB 152), Barnard 175, and Cederblad 201. It is best recognized as a dark and reflection nebula complex: VdB 152 is the prominent blue reflection nebula, while Barnard 175 forms the surrounding dark structure.
Astronomical Features
- • The nebula complex lies about 1,400 light-years away, deep within the northern reaches of the Milky Way in Cepheus.
- • Its name originates from German astronomer Max Wolf, who thought the structure resembled a cave and had it photographed in 1908 by his assistant August Kopff.
- • The blue reflection nebula at the center, Cederblad 201 (VdB 152), is illuminated by a star passing through the region, rather than a native embedded protostar, indicating little active star formation at this exact site.
- • The dust and molecular gas in this nebula block and scatter starlight, giving rise to the characteristic blue color from reflected starlight as well as the dark, shadowy clouds typical of such regions.
- • The area also features a mix of faint H-alpha emission and an ancient planetary nebula (Dengel-Hartl 5) along with filaments from the supernova remnant SNR 110.3+11.3, all visible in deep astrophotography mosaics.
Observational Interest
- • Wolf Cave Nebula is a favorite deep sky target for astrophotographers due to its rich interplay of shadow, color, and structure—showcasing dense molecular clouds, scattered starlight, and contrasting filaments across its surroundings.
- • Its dusty clouds are typical of regions where future star and planetary system formation may eventually occur, but the primary visible illumination is due to scattering, not from newly formed stellar systems.
Nomenclature Notes
- • “Wolf’s Cave” can sometimes be confused with “Cave Nebula,” which more commonly refers to Sh2-155 in Cepheus, but in historical literature, Wolf’s Cave refers to this VdB 152/Barnard 175/LDN 1217 region.
This nebula is an excellent representation of a dark nebula interacting with reflection nebulosity and is best observed or imaged with moderate to long-exposure astrophotography under dark skies to capture its full extent and subtle detail.
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