Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Cassiopeia (Cas)  ·  Contains:  IC 1590  ·  NGC 281
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NGC 281 (+HD 5005 Trapezium), Jim Thommes
NGC 281 (+HD 5005 Trapezium), Jim Thommes

NGC 281 (+HD 5005 Trapezium)

Getting plate-solving status, please wait...
NGC 281 (+HD 5005 Trapezium), Jim Thommes
NGC 281 (+HD 5005 Trapezium), Jim Thommes

NGC 281 (+HD 5005 Trapezium)

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Description

This image is a close up of  NGC 281- the "Pac Man" nebula. NGC 281 (Sh2-184, LBN 616, and Cederblad 3). It is an emission nebula structure  with most of the Ionization energy for NGC 281 coming from the multiple star HD 5005 (five component parts form this trapezium - A through E). Parts A and B are separated by 1.5" and can't be resolved in this image.  Other Parts can be somewhat resolved from the AB  pair.

Distance of NGC 281 is about 9,190 light years.  The open star cluster  IC 1590 is at the center of the emission structure  - it has 107 members or probable members. IC 1590 distance is about 9,620 light years.  The prominent dark nebula at the lower part of the emission structure is Dobashi 3745; just below that is the separate fainter HII structure of LBN 615.  These objects, information, and some of the brighter stars are identified in the annotated image.

Image Rev D and E show a crop comparison between  the finished image and a lightly stretched Ha stack. This comparison (with lightly stretched Ha) shows the trapezium more clearly. Mouseover comparison of HD 5005 component parts

Starless Comparison - Starless Mouseover

Full size (pan and zoom website image)  - NGC 281

Full size annotation (pan and zoom website image) - NGC 281 Annotated

Comments

Revisions

  • Final
    NGC 281 (+HD 5005 Trapezium), Jim Thommes
    Original
  • NGC 281 (+HD 5005 Trapezium), Jim Thommes
    B
  • NGC 281 (+HD 5005 Trapezium), Jim Thommes
    D
  • NGC 281 (+HD 5005 Trapezium), Jim Thommes
    E
  • NGC 281 (+HD 5005 Trapezium), Jim Thommes
    F

B

Title: Annotated image

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D

Title: Crop - Trapezium Region

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E

Title: Crop - Trapezium Region - Ha Stack Lightly Stretched

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F

Title: Starless Image

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Sky plot

Sky plot

Histogram

NGC 281 (+HD 5005 Trapezium), Jim Thommes