Tadpole Emission Nebula and the Flaming Star Nebula

The constellation of Auriga harbors the cluster NGC 1893 which contains the Tadpole Nebula (IC 410). These 10 light-years long dense streamers are being pushed outward from the central region and may have star forming regions embedded within them. The surrounding hydrogen cloud is over 100 light-years across.

On the right side of this image the irregular variable star AE Auriga is lighting up the interstellar gas and dust that is surrounding it.  The star is so energetic that it knocks the electrons to a higher energy state and when it recombines with a proton the classic red emission nebula is formed (SH 2-229 or Caldwell 31). The Flaming Star Nebula, IC 405, is the magenta/purplish area and is the reflection portion of this nebulous region.

5nm Narrowband filters; H-alpha: O-III: S-II - 60: 60: 40 minutes x 600-second sub frames, Total= 2-hours 40-minutes, binned 1x1. Takahashi Epsilon-180, SBIG STL-6303E CCD camera, Gemini G-11 EQ mount, ATMoB Clubhouse, Westford, MA, 28 January 2012.