Flaming Star Nebula, IC 405
The red and purple colors of this nebula are present in different regions and are created by different
processes. The brightest star in the image is so hot it is emitting blue light so energetic that it knocks
electrons into more energetic orbits in the hydrogen atoms that make up most the interstellar gas.
When the electrons fall back to their original orbit, red light is emitted. The region's purple color is a mix
of this red light and blue light emitted by the star, reflected to us by surrounding dust. The two regions
are referred to as emission nebula and reflection nebula, respectively. The Flaming Star Nebula,
officially known as IC 405, lies about 1500 light years distant, spans about 5 light years, and is visible
with a small telescope toward the constellation of Auriga. This nebula is very dim and requires hours of
exposure. Three images of this nebula are shown below. One was taken with a modified Canon SLR
and the other two with an astronomical camera, an SBIG ST10XME.
processes. The brightest star in the image is so hot it is emitting blue light so energetic that it knocks
electrons into more energetic orbits in the hydrogen atoms that make up most the interstellar gas.
When the electrons fall back to their original orbit, red light is emitted. The region's purple color is a mix
of this red light and blue light emitted by the star, reflected to us by surrounding dust. The two regions
are referred to as emission nebula and reflection nebula, respectively. The Flaming Star Nebula,
officially known as IC 405, lies about 1500 light years distant, spans about 5 light years, and is visible
with a small telescope toward the constellation of Auriga. This nebula is very dim and requires hours of
exposure. Three images of this nebula are shown below. One was taken with a modified Canon SLR
and the other two with an astronomical camera, an SBIG ST10XME.
This image was taken with the ST10. This is a
black/white digital camera. In order to obtain
color, images are taken with red, green and
blue filters and then combined. In this image,
the red component was taken with a
hydrogen-alpha filter. Total exposure was 2
hours with H-alpha and 1 hour each with green
and blue. Click on the image for a larger view.
black/white digital camera. In order to obtain
color, images are taken with red, green and
blue filters and then combined. In this image,
the red component was taken with a
hydrogen-alpha filter. Total exposure was 2
hours with H-alpha and 1 hour each with green
and blue. Click on the image for a larger view.
This is the hydrogen-alpha version of the
ST10 image. H-alpha filter has a very narrow
bandwidth and provide a lot of detail that is
often not seen in color images.
Hydrogen-alpha is the wavelength of light
emitted when hydrogen atoms are excited by
star light. Total exposure was about 2 hours.
Click on the image for a larger view.
ST10 image. H-alpha filter has a very narrow
bandwidth and provide a lot of detail that is
often not seen in color images.
Hydrogen-alpha is the wavelength of light
emitted when hydrogen atoms are excited by
star light. Total exposure was about 2 hours.
Click on the image for a larger view.
This image of IC405 was taken with a Canon
20D digital camera which has been modified to
make it more sensitive to the red colors that
are often found in nebula. Although it does
not show as much detail as the above images,
it only represents about 1.5 hours of exposure.
Note that the orientation is different than the
other two. Also the imaging chip is about 4
times as large as that in the ST10 thus
providing a larger field of view.
20D digital camera which has been modified to
make it more sensitive to the red colors that
are often found in nebula. Although it does
not show as much detail as the above images,
it only represents about 1.5 hours of exposure.
Note that the orientation is different than the
other two. Also the imaging chip is about 4
times as large as that in the ST10 thus
providing a larger field of view.