<p>A collection of nebulae—interstellar clouds of dust and gas—create a question mark in the sky in a new picture taken from a small private observatory in Finland and submitted to <em>National Geographic'</em>s <a href="http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/your-shot/your-shot">Your Shot</a>.</p><p>At top sits the emission nebula known as Cederblad 214, which is part of a larger star-forming complex called NGC 7822. The dot at bottom is a smaller nebula called Sharpless 170. The entire piece of punctuation spans about 40 light-years in the constellation Cepheus.</p>

Cosmic Curiosity

A collection of nebulae—interstellar clouds of dust and gas—create a question mark in the sky in a new picture taken from a small private observatory in Finland and submitted to National Geographic's Your Shot.

At top sits the emission nebula known as Cederblad 214, which is part of a larger star-forming complex called NGC 7822. The dot at bottom is a smaller nebula called Sharpless 170. The entire piece of punctuation spans about 40 light-years in the constellation Cepheus.

Photograph by J.P. Metsavainio, Your Shot

Space Pictures This Week: Rocket Launch, Saturn "Snowman"

Nebulae punctuate the sky, Europe lifts up a new lightweight, Saturn moons get stacked, and more in the week's best space pictures.

Read This Next

This is why Artemis is heading back to the moon
Why did India land near the moon’s south pole?
Why the northern lights are showing up in unexpected places

Go Further

Subscriber Exclusive Content

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet