IC-405 – The Flaming Star Nebula
 

Located in the southern part of the constellation of Auriga is a cloud of dust and hydrogen gas that is being illuminated by the bright star AE Auriga. The powerful radiation ionizes the hydrogen gas, causing it to glow red. The blue glow is caused by AE Auriga's intense blue light reflecting off the dust. Astronomers believe AE Auriga originated in the Orion Nebula, and was ejected from it after a close encounter with another star. AE Auriga is moving rapidly throug hIC-405's dust and gas cloud, and in the future will leave it dark again.


Equipment
 TMB-130SS APO refractor at f/7 on an Astro-Physics 1200 equatorial mount
SBIG ST-8XM camera
SBIG CFW-10 filter wheel with Astrodon filters
Guiding: 60mm f/5 refractor and ST-402 camera
Imaging and autoguiding with MaxIm DL 4.62
Exposure
Luminance:   3.25 hours (98 x 2 min.), unbinned, -35°C
Red   1.8 hours (53 x 2 min.), binned 2x2, -30°C
Green   1.8 hours (53 x 2 min.), binned 2x2, -30°C
Blue   1.8 hours (53 x 2 min.), binned 2x2, -30°C
Processing Dark and flat-frame processing in CCDStack
Statistical-combined in CCDStack
Levels, curves, LRGB assembly in Photoshop CS3
Date and Location 27 November 2008 (luminance) & 29 December 2008 (color)
Montpelier, VA    N 37° 49' 12", W 77° 42' 06"