2022-02-05 / Click on image to enlarge
galacticsights
astrophotography
IC 405, Flaming Star Nebula
Technical Details
| Location | Zollikerberg, Switzerland |
| Camera | Nikon DSLR D810A |
| Telescope | TS ONTC 12" f/4 Carbon Newton |
| Optics | TS 2,5" Wynne Coma Corrector |
| Focal Length | 1113mm |
| Mount | iOptron CEM120 Center-Balanced Equatorial Mount |
| Autoguiding | MGEN-3 (Dithering) |
| Focuser | Moonlite |
| Planetarium Software | Stellarium | Image Session Control | APT - Astro Photography Tool v3.88, ASCOM Platform 6 |
| Lights | 106 x 120s (total 3h32'), ISO-1600, additional Biases, Flats, no Darks |
| Stacking Software | Pixinsight 1.8, Drizzle 1x |
| Image Processing | Pixinsight 1.8 |
The Flaming Star Nebula, officially known as IC 405, lies about 1500 light years distant in the constellation of the Charioteer (Auriga). It spans about 5 light years. Rippling dust and gas lanes give the Flaming Star Nebula its name. The red and blue-purple colors of the nebula are present in different regions and are created by different processes. The bright star AE Aurigae, visible right of the the image center, is so hot it is blue, emitting light so energetic it knocks electrons away from surrounding gas. When a proton recaptures an electron, red light is frequently emitted. The blue-purple region's color is a mix of this red light and blue light emitted by AE Aurigae but reflected to us by surrounding dust. The two regions are referred to as emission nebula and reflection nebula, respectively. (Text adapted from NASA Science 2020 January 7)