Sh2-126 – the Gecko in Lacerta

Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Tucked away in the small constellation of Lacerta, the Lizard, lies a sprawling cloud of hydrogen listed as number 126 in Stewart Sharpless’s catalogue. Its glow is powered by 10 Lacertae, a hot, bluish O-type star belonging to the young stellar group Lacerta OB1. The star’s energetic ultraviolet light excites the surrounding gas, which in turn shines in the characteristic red of hydrogen. Measurements disagree on how far away the region is; most estimates fall somewhere between roughly 1,200 and 1,800 light-years. The nebula cannot be seen through the eyepiece – only long exposures bring out its structure. The shape at the head of the filaments resembles a gecko, a fitting match for its host constellation. Beyond the red bands, grey veils of dust and dark clouds absorb the light from behind.

Lacerta on 庭 — a journal

Sh2-126 – the Gecko in Lacerta