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The hero we deserve

Acquired by Mark McComsikey at Observatorio El Sauce, Chile; processed by Ron Brecher

The Cosmic Bat Nebula is the 43rd object in Beverly Lynds’ landmark catalog of dark nebulae, which she published in 1962 — the greatest catalog of such objects since E.E. Barnard’s in 1919. Lynds died Oct. 5 at the age of 95. This RGB image represents 13 hours and 10 minutes of exposure with a 24-inch scope.