Sh2-112 (near the bottom) and Sh2-115 (upper part of the image) are faint emission nebulae cataloged by S. Sharpless in 1959. They are located in Cygnus, just 1 and 2 degrees northwest of Deneb, the brightest star of that constellation. The brightest parts of the Sharpless nebulae can be glimpsed visually, but it takes a dark sky and a decent rich-field telescope.
Abell 71 is the designation of the small round patch of emission nebulosity near the upper edge of the photograph, it actually shows two extensions or "arms". It was originally classified as one of four planetary nebulae in Cygnus by G. Abell in 1955. Subsequent studies question that, since it emits almost no greenish [OIII] light which is characteristic for a planetary nebula, so it might simply be another HII region, although it is still cataloged as PN in most databases.
Sharpless 112, Sharpless 115 and Abell 71 in Hα, which is part of this image.
Sharpless 112, Sharpless 115 and Abell 71, Wright-Newtonian CCD image.
Exposure Data
