IC 405 — The Flaming Star Nebula
The Flaming Star Nebula (IC 405, to the right above) , about 1,500 light-years from Earth in the constellation Auriga, glows both red and blue as the brilliant star AE Aurigae ignites clouds of gas and dust. The red comes from glowing hydrogen, while the blue is starlight reflected by cosmic dust. AE Aurigae is thought to be a runaway star ejected from Orion millions of years ago—lighting up this region as it races through space.
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| Distance from Earth | ≈ 1,500 light-years |
| Overall Diameter | ≈ 5 light-years |
| Nebula Type | Mixed emission + reflection |
| Illuminating Star | AE Aurigae (runaway O-type star) |
| Apparent Size | ≈ 37′ × 10′ (≈ 0.62° × 0.17°) |
| Dominant Emissions | H-α, dust-scattered blue continuum |
| Notable Features | Filamentary H₂ regions; aromatic IR emission (PAH) |
| Star Formation Activity | No confirmed cluster; localized H₂ filaments present |
IC 410 — The Tadpoles Nebula
The Tadpoles Nebula (IC 410), about 12,000 light-years from Earth in the constellation Auriga,
is a turbulent emission nebula lit by the young star cluster
NGC 1893. Two long, dusty filaments resemble cosmic tadpoles swimming through glowing hydrogen gas—dense pockets of
material where new stars may be forming.
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| Distance from Earth | ≈ 10,000–12,000 light-years |
| Overall Diameter | ≈ 100 light-years |
| Nebula Type | Emission nebula (H-II region) |
| Associated Cluster | NGC 1893 |
| Cluster Age | ≈ 4 million years |
| Notable Structures | Two “tadpole” pillars ~10 light-years long |
| Identified YSOs | ≈ 4,600 in the NGC 1893 / IC 410 region |
| Dominant Emissions | H-α, [O III], [S II] |
NGC 1893 — Young Star Cluster in Auriga
NGC 1893 is a bright cluster of newborn stars about 12,000 light-years away, embedded within the
IC 410 Nebula. Formed only a few million years ago, its hot blue
stars illuminate and sculpt the surrounding gas and dust, creating the famous “tadpoles.” This cluster represents a laboratory
for studying how massive stars shape their birth clouds.
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Aur 16 through Aur 19 — Foreground and background stars
Aur 16 through Aur 19 are foreground and background stars scattered across the Flaming Star Nebula region in Auriga. They aren’t physically connected to IC 405, but their differing distances and colors help reveal the structure of the nebula: some shine through the gas and dust, dimmed and reddened, while others sit in front of it with clearer, sharper light. The contrast between these stars and the glowing nebula behind them gives the Flaming Star region its depth and three-dimensional appearance.
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Targets & WCS
Mapping & Constellations
Equipment & Integration
Imaging Setup
- Scope: William Optics GRAN-TURISMO 81 IV
- Camera: ZWO ASI2600MC Pro
- Filters: Baader 3.5 / 4 nm Ultra-Narrowband Filter-Set – CMOS-optimized (H-alpha / O-III / S-II)
- Mount: iOptron CEM120EC2
- Guiding: ZWO ASI290MM Mini Camera, WO UniGuide 50 mm f/4.0 scope
Integration
- Hα: 45 × 300 s = 3 h 45 m
- O III: 45 × 300 s = 3 h 45 m
- S II: 45 × 300 s = 3 h 45 m
- Total: 11 h 15 m
Notes / Processing
Stacking was performed using Astro Pixel Processor, which handled calibration and initial integration of the data while producing individual stretched channels for H-alpha, S II, and O III. Star reduction was completed with StarNet v2 to isolate nebular detail and better emphasize the main structures. The combined processing was carried out in Affinity Photo using its dedicated astrophotography tools, along with James Riston’s macro toolset for enhanced workflow control. The three channels were merged and color-mapped in the Hubble Palette (SHO), followed by additional stretching and refinement of each channel. Final steps included targeted noise reduction, sharpening, and overall tonal balancing—adjusting brightness, contrast, and color balance—to produce the finished image.
IC 405 — Detailed Description and Further Reading
The Flaming Star Nebula (IC 405) is a mixed emission and reflection nebula surrounding the hot O-type star AE Aurigae, roughly 1,500 light-years from Earth. Ultraviolet radiation from AE Aurigae ionizes hydrogen gas, producing the characteristic H-alpha emission that gives the nebula its red hue, while interstellar dust reflects blue starlight. The nebula spans about 5 light-years and shows intricate filaments sculpted by stellar winds. AE Aurigae itself is believed to have been ejected from the Orion Nebula region roughly 2.5 million years ago, making IC 405 a striking example of a runaway star lighting up its path.
Further Reading
IC 410 — Detailed Description and Further Reading
IC 410 is a vast emission nebula surrounding the open cluster NGC 1893, located roughly 12,000 light-years away. Radiation from massive, newly formed O- and B-type stars ionizes surrounding hydrogen, producing its deep red H-alpha glow. Within the cloud, two elongated dark structures—nicknamed the “tadpoles”—are columns of cooler gas being eroded by stellar winds, likely sites of ongoing star formation. The region’s energetic environment offers a glimpse into how clusters sculpt and disperse their natal molecular clouds.
Further Reading
NGC 1893 — Detailed Description and Further Reading
NGC 1893 is an open cluster located in the constellation Auriga, about 12,000 light-years from Earth. Containing hundreds of young, massive O- and B-type stars, it lies at the core of the IC 410 nebula. The intense ultraviolet radiation and stellar winds from these stars carve cavities in the surrounding gas, driving the sculpting of the “tadpoles” — dense globules where new protostars are still forming. The cluster is estimated to be about 4 million years old, making it an ideal site for observing early stellar evolution within an active star-forming region.
Further Reading
Detailed Descriptions (Aur 16 → Aur 19)
Aur 16 — Stellar Profile and Context
Aur 16 is a catalog star lying in the line of sight of IC 405. It isn’t part of the nebula but serves as a useful contrast object: its clean starlight shows minimal reddening, suggesting it is in the foreground. This makes Aur 16 a reference for comparing how much the nebular dust dims and reddens background stars across the field.
Aur 17 — Stellar Profile and Context
Aur 17 sits deeper in the field and shows mild color alteration from passing through IC 405’s dusty regions. The star helps highlight how dense patches of dust scatter blue light more strongly than red, one of the key visual effects that defines the Flaming Star Nebula’s appearance. Its relative dimming is a small but measurable indicator of interstellar extinction.
Aur 18 — Stellar Profile and Context
Aur 18 is a background star shining through a thinner, filamentary portion of the nebula. This positioning creates a slight halo of scattered light around the star, visible in long exposures and astrophotography. Stars like Aur 18 help map the uneven distribution of dust within IC 405, showing where the nebular material is clumpy or diffuse.
Aur 19 — Stellar Profile and Context
Aur 19 appears against one of the redder H-alpha regions. Its warm tint and reduced brightness make it a textbook example of how hydrogen emission coupled with dust extinction alters the appearance of background stars. Objects like Aur 19 are often used in photometric studies to quantify extinction curves inside nebulae such as IC 405.