Tulip Nebula – A Bloom in the Cygnus Rift
When the light in this image began its journey to Earth—about 6,000 years ago, around 4000 BCE—the world was entering a transformational era in human civilization.
In Mesopotamia, the first known cities were forming in Sumer, and cuneiform writing was beginning to emerge—marking the dawn of recorded history.
In ancient China, early Neolithic cultures such as the Yangshao were flourishing along the Yellow River, laying the foundation for future dynasties.
In India, the Indus Valley Civilization was taking root, with planned cities, advanced drainage systems, and long-distance trade.
In Egypt, people were transitioning from scattered farming communities to the early pre-dynastic kingdoms that would later unify into one of the world’s most iconic civilizations.
As humanity was learning to build cities, write language, and organize complex societies, the photons captured in this image began their silent journey through space—only now arriving to tell their story.
The Tulip Nebula—cataloged as Sharpless 101 (Sh2-101)—is a glowing emission nebula located about 6,000 light-years away in the constellation Cygnus. Named for its graceful, petal-like structure, the Tulip Nebula is part of a vast star-forming region along the edge of the Cygnus Rift, where massive young stars energize clouds of gas and dust with their intense radiation.
This nebula glows primarily in hydrogen-alpha light, its hues sculpted by the ultraviolet output of nearby hot stars which illuminates the surrounding interstellar medium. The intricate folds of gas and dark lanes of dust give the Tulip Nebula a layered, almost three-dimensional appearance, making it a favorite target for deep-sky astrophotographers.
Presented in the SHO color palette—a mapping of emission-line data from Sulfur II (S), Hydrogen-alpha (H), and Oxygen III (O)—this image uses false color to reveal the nebula’s intricate ionization structure. Also known as the Hubble Palette, this technique assigns sulfur to red, hydrogen to green, and oxygen to blue, allowing otherwise invisible wavelengths of light to be seen with stunning clarity and artistic depth. The result is a scientifically meaningful and visually striking interpretation of the nebula’s complex composition.
Tulip Nebula – A Bloom in the Cygnus Rift
When the light in this image began its journey to Earth—about 6,000 years ago, around 4000 BCE—the world was entering a transformational era in human civilization.
In Mesopotamia, the first known cities were forming in Sumer, and cuneiform writing was beginning to emerge—marking the dawn of recorded history.
In ancient China, early Neolithic cultures such as the Yangshao were flourishing along the Yellow River, laying the foundation for future dynasties.
In India, the Indus Valley Civilization was taking root, with planned cities, advanced drainage systems, and long-distance trade.
In Egypt, people were transitioning from scattered farming communities to the early pre-dynastic kingdoms that would later unify into one of the world’s most iconic civilizations.
As humanity was learning to build cities, write language, and organize complex societies, the photons captured in this image began their silent journey through space—only now arriving to tell their story.
An annotated edition of this image reveals the extraordinary density and structure of the Tulip Nebula (Sh2-101) and its surroundings within the constellation Cygnus, one of the richest regions of the northern Milky Way. This detailed map highlights not just the central emission nebula, but a vast network of dark and bright nebulae, star clusters, and cataloged stars—bringing context and depth to this dynamic corner of the galaxy.
At the heart of the frame is the glowing Tulip Nebula (Sharpless 101), surrounded by reflection and emission regions including LBN 179, LBN 180, LBN 177, LBN 178, LBN 172, and LBN 174—each illuminated by the energetic radiation of young, massive stars. Numerous dark nebulae from the Lynds catalog—such as LDN 852, LDN 853, LDN 854, LDN 855, LDN 856, LDN 857, LDN 858, LDN 860, LDN 861, LDN 845, LDN 847, LDN 848, LDN 836, LDN 835, LDN 834, LDN 839, and LDN 840—wind through the frame, tracing dense molecular clouds where new stars may still be forming.
The annotation also highlights nearby emission nebulae such as Sharpless 100 (Sh2-100) and Sharpless 99 (Sh2-99), as well as LBN 159, LBN 160, LBN 161, LBN 162, LBN 164, LBN 166, LBN 168, LBN 170, and LBN 171, all contributing to the intricate tapestry of glowing gas and dark dust.
For stellar reference, the open cluster NGC 6871 is labeled, along with the emission nebula NGC 6857. Notable stars 27 b01 Cygni, 25 Cygni, and 21 Eta Cygni are also identified, helping orient the viewer within the rich stellar field of Cygnus.
This annotated edition turns a visually stunning image into a deep-sky atlas—ideal for astronomy enthusiasts, educators, and collectors who want to explore the full scientific context of the Tulip Nebula’s surroundings. Whether for study or display, it transforms a work of cosmic art into a detailed map of one of the galaxy’s most active regions.
The Fiery Tulip – An Artistic Fusion of Light and Element
When the light in this image began its journey to Earth—about 6,000 years ago, around 4000 BCE—the world was entering a transformational era in human civilization.
In Mesopotamia, the first known cities were forming in Sumer, and cuneiform writing was beginning to emerge—marking the dawn of recorded history.
In ancient China, early Neolithic cultures such as the Yangshao were flourishing along the Yellow River, laying the foundation for future dynasties.
In India, the Indus Valley Civilization was taking root, with planned cities, advanced drainage systems, and long-distance trade.
In Egypt, people were transitioning from scattered farming communities to the early pre-dynastic kingdoms that would later unify into one of the world’s most iconic civilizations.
As humanity was learning to build cities, write language, and organize complex societies, the photons captured in this image began their silent journey through space—only now arriving to tell their story.
This dramatic rendering of the Tulip Nebula (Sharpless 101) transforms a stellar nursery into a cosmic wildfire. Built upon a traditional HOO palette—with Hydrogen-alpha and Oxygen III data forming the structural foundation—this image is further enhanced by the subtle power of Sulfur II (SII) emissions. Here, the SII signal has been artistically blended into the composition and mapped to golden yellow and deep orange hues, igniting the nebula with the visual intensity of flame.
This high-resolution image is available as a fine art print or digital download, offering a bold and evocative take on a classic target. Perfect for collectors and enthusiasts, The Fiery Tulip is a photograph written in the language of light and time.