This is the Iris Nebula, located in the constellation Cepheus. It is a reflection nebula: its characteristic blue color is not produced by its own emission, but by the light of the central star being scattered by the surrounding dust. Around the brightest region, numerous dark dust structures can be seen, forming part of a vast complex known as the Cepheus Flare, which makes this area of the sky particularly fascinating. Captured from Bortle 4 skies in central Italy ( SQM 20.4) Around the brightest region, numerous dark dust structures can be seen, forming part of a vast complex known as the Cepheus Flare, which makes this area of the sky particularly fascinating.

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