NGC281 · Pacman Nebula
| Chinese name | 吃豆人星云 |
|---|---|
| Type | Emission nebula |
| Constellation | Cas |
| RA | 00h53m |
| Dec | +56° |
| Apparent magnitude | 7.4ᵐ |
| Hemisphere | Northern |
| Best season | Autumn |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Focal length | 中长焦 800–1200mm |
About
The Pacman Nebula (NGC 281) lies about 9,200 light-years away in Cassiopeia, named for a dark dust notch that makes its outline resemble the arcade character Pac-Man. Embedded at its center is the young open cluster IC 1590, whose hot multiple-star system pours out ultraviolet radiation that ionizes the surrounding gas and makes it glow red. Its edges are dotted with sharply sculpted dark Bok globules, the very cradles where new stars are born. Dominated by red hydrogen emission, the nebula spans roughly 50 light-years. It suits SHO narrowband processing well, which accentuates the classic Pac-Man shape, making it a popular autumn Cassiopeia target.