The diffuse
hydrogen-alpha
glow of emission region Sh2-27 fills this cosmic scene.
The field of view spans nearly 3 degrees across
the nebula-rich constellation Ophiuchus toward the
central Milky Way.
A Dark Veil of wispy interstellar dust clouds draped across the
foreground is chiefly identified as LDN 234 and LDN 204
from the 1962
Catalog of Dark Nebulae
by American astronomer
Beverly Lynds.
Sh2-27 itself is the large but faint HII region surrounding
runaway O-type star Zeta Ophiuchi.
Along with the
Zeta Oph
HII region, LDN 234 and LDN 204 are likely
500 or so light-years away.
At that distance, this telescopic frame would be about 25 light-years wide.