Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Cassiopeia (Cas)  ·  Contains:  IC 1590  ·  LBN 611  ·  LBN 615  ·  LBN 616  ·  LBN 621  ·  NGC 281  ·  Sh2-184
✨ The Pacman Nebula✨, PauRoche
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✨ The Pacman Nebula✨

✨ The Pacman Nebula✨, PauRoche
Powered byPixInsight

✨ The Pacman Nebula✨

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Description

The Pacman Nebula (NGC 281) is a cosmic cloud of space gas located in the constellation Cassiopeia. This nebula gets its name from the classic video game character it resembles. Many people think that this nebula resembles a heart when viewed at the right angle. NGC 281 is a rather diffuse red-glowing emission nebula. It includes a small, yet noticeable open star cluster (IC 1590) and dynamic dust lanes. The prominent lane of dark dust cutting into this glowing nebula creates the “mouth” of this nebulas shape.This deep-space object has been studied and observed by astronomers for over 100 years. The great observational astronomer Edward Emerson Barnard discovered the nebula in 1883. He describes the Pacman Nebula as “a large faint nebula, very diffuse.”

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✨ The Pacman Nebula✨, PauRoche