vdB 96 is a reflection nebula located in the constellation Canis Major
It lies approximately 4,530 light-years (1,389 parsecs) away from Earth.
This nebula is part of the LDN 1660 dark cloud complex and is illuminated primarily by the bright blue star HD 57281, which scatters its light off surrounding dust, creating its distinct bluish glow.
In this image, the bright central portion of vdB 96 stands out with its reflection nebula, while dark molecular clouds weave through the surrounding area.
To the left, a striking red emission nebula contrasts against the backdrop of stars, indicating the presence of ionized hydrogen and potential star formation activity.
vdB 96 is embedded within a dynamic star-forming region, and it also contains Herbig-Haro object HH 72, a jet-like structure formed by newborn stars interacting with surrounding gas.
The interplay between reflection, emission, and dark nebulae in this field makes it a stunning celestial scene.
Imaged in LRGB and H alpha on my Planewave CDK 700 at Observatorio El Sauce, Chile.
Image acquisition and processing: Mike Selby