Astrophotographer captures the Bat Nebula and comet C/2023 E1 Atlas in a photo

An astrophotographer shared incredible photos of the distant evening sky. Miguel Claro captured comet C/2023 E1 Atlas in a rare encounter with the Bat and the Squid Nebula.

The detailed deep sky image shows a dramatic scene unfolding at different wavelengths. The astrophotographer notes that his photo details a cosmic cacophony of nebulae, stars, and a periodic comet with an orbital period of 85 years, Space.com reports.

Miguel Claro said that the deep sky portrait, taken at different wavelengths between Ha, OIII, and RGB, shows a large reddish cloud of glowing hydrogen from Sh2-129, known as the Bat Nebula. The nebula, with a physical diameter of 271 light-years, contains a blue giant squid nebula that stretches 50 light-years in the center.

Although an additional greenish diffuse ball is visible near the edge of the Bat's reddish wings, experts say this is not a new type of bizarre nebula, but a rare encounter with a visitor to the solar system – the lonely, faint comet C/2023 E1 Atlas.

According to the International Astronomical Union (IAU), comet C/2023 E1 Atlas orbits the Sun every 85 years at an average distance of 19 AU (an astronomical unit is 149,597,871 kilometers).

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!