Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Cassiopeia (Cas)  ·  Contains:  IC 1590  ·  LBN 615  ·  LBN 616  ·  NGC 281  ·  PGC 137297  ·  Sh2-184
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NGC 281 Pac-Man Nebula, Szoomer
NGC 281 Pac-Man Nebula, Szoomer

NGC 281 Pac-Man Nebula

Getting plate-solving status, please wait...
NGC 281 Pac-Man Nebula, Szoomer
NGC 281 Pac-Man Nebula, Szoomer

NGC 281 Pac-Man Nebula

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Description

The Pac-Man  Nebula, NGC 281, is a bright emission nebula in the constellation Casseopeia.  It is approximately 9500 light years from Earth.  

This picture was taken in October during a break in the clouds with, unfortunately, only three hours of integration.

My favorite feature captured in this photograph are the Bok globules located near the center.  These dense formation of cosmic gas and dust typically have a mass of about 2 to 50 solar masses contained within a region of approximately a light year across.  As gravity pulls the gas in, new stars often form from these globules.

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    NGC 281 Pac-Man Nebula, Szoomer
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  • NGC 281 Pac-Man Nebula, Szoomer
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C

Title: NGC 281 Pac-Man Nebula Starless

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NGC 281 Pac-Man Nebula, Szoomer