Exposures: 4x15 min subexposures for only 1 hour. Imaged using an Astrodon 3 nm Ha filter
IC 405 surrounds the hot young blue star AE Auriga. This star emits extermely high energy radiation which knocks electrons away from the surrounding gas. When neighboring protons capture stray electrons, they emit hydrogen. This abundant hydrogen is easily detected by a "red" sensitive camera such as the ST-10 and an Ha filter.
FOV=85 x 126 arc min
The rippling dust and gas lanes give the appearance of a flaming star
1,500 ly distant
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