Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Cassiopeia (Cas)  ·  Contains:  IC 59  ·  IC 63  ·  The star Navi (γCas)  ·  gamma Cas nebula
Sharpless 2-185 -- IC 63, IC 59 and the Ghost of Cassiopeia , Antonio.Spinoza
Sharpless 2-185 -- IC 63, IC 59 and the Ghost of Cassiopeia
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Sharpless 2-185 -- IC 63, IC 59 and the Ghost of Cassiopeia

Sharpless 2-185 -- IC 63, IC 59 and the Ghost of Cassiopeia , Antonio.Spinoza
Sharpless 2-185 -- IC 63, IC 59 and the Ghost of Cassiopeia
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Sharpless 2-185 -- IC 63, IC 59 and the Ghost of Cassiopeia

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Description

What an interesting region of space! This image does not portray the region as well as I had hoped. The bright star Gamma Cassiopeia is evaporating the ~600 light year distant nebulae IC 59 and IC 63 due to the energy emanating from the hot star. The intense radiation is responsible for the leading edge of the nebulae facing Gamma Cassiopeia. IC 63 and IC 59 are a combination of reflection and emission nebulae. Sometime in the future (how long?) the energy from Gamma Cassiopeia is likely to evaporate IC 63 and IC 59 completely. Together, IC 59 and IC 63 are sometimes called "The Ghost of Cassiopeia" due to their elusive, specter-like appearance. Chromatic aberration surrounding Gamma Cassiopeia appears to be more an artifact of my processing than optics. The skew in the glow around Gamma Cassiopeia and the other bright stars may be related to spacing of the CCD from the flattener. Spacing was improved toward the end of acquisition of these images after talking to George at Astro-Physics.

Comments

Revisions

  • Sharpless 2-185 -- IC 63, IC 59 and the Ghost of Cassiopeia , Antonio.Spinoza
    Original
  • Sharpless 2-185 -- IC 63, IC 59 and the Ghost of Cassiopeia , Antonio.Spinoza
    B
  • Final
    Sharpless 2-185 -- IC 63, IC 59 and the Ghost of Cassiopeia , Antonio.Spinoza
    C

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Sharpless 2-185 -- IC 63, IC 59 and the Ghost of Cassiopeia , Antonio.Spinoza