IC 405 THE FLAMING STAR NEBULA - Located in the direction of the constellation Auriga, this nebula is 1,500 light years distant. Radiation from the bright star to the left of center is causing Hydrogen gas (the red areas) to be fluoresced. While the purple-blue areas are dust lanes reflecting the true color of the star.

This star, AE Aurigae is not native to this part of the sky having originated in the Orion group. It just happens to be traveling through this cloud of gas and dust. After it leaves the area, the nebula will go dark.

ST-7ME/CFW8a with Tru-Balance color filter set on my Takahashi FS 102 working at f/8 with unguided sub-exposures of 30 seconds each.

L45/R30/G20/B25 with color frames binned 2x2

Imaged at the Zodiac Ranch, Ft. Davis Texas February 21st 2004

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Last modified: January 1st, 2009