This wide-angle image of the star-forming region NGC 281 in the constellation Cassiopeia was taken with the 0.9-metre WIYN telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory near Tucson, AZ. This wide-field image of the star-forming region NGC 281 in the constellation Cassiopeia was taken with the 0.9-metre WIYN telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory near Tucson, AZ. Wikipedia NGC 281 is located in Cassiopeia. This wide-angle image of the star-forming region NGC 281 in the constellation Cassiopeia was taken with the 0.9-metre WIYN telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory near Tucson, AZ.
The most beautiful portraits of NGC 281 are often taken with narrow-band filters (see this APOD version in the Hubble Palette) to separate the different wavelengths of light emitted by this nebula. NGC 281, also known as the Pacman Nebula because of its overall appearance in visible light, is about 80 light years across. Also known as the Pacman Ne bula because of its appearance in visible light, NGC 281 is about 80 light years across. An easy way to find it is to seek out the constellation’s iconic “W” shape and aim a little “below” the W from the middle star.
In which constellation is the Pacman Nebula located?
The Pacman Nebula, also called NGC 281, is located 9,200 light years away in the constellation of Cassiopeia. You can use a stargazing app on your smartphone to determine the position of this nebula in the constellation of Cassiopeia. However, the stars in IC 1590 are still on their way to escape the Pacman Nebula, as open star clusters are only loosely connected and the grouping will eventually dissolve in a few tens of millions of years. The most beautiful portraits of ngc 281 are often taken with narrow-band filters (see this APOD version in the Hubble Palette) to separate the different wavelengths of light emitted by this nebula.
To telescopes with visible light, this star-forming cloud appears to be eating its way through the cosmos, earning it the nickname Pacman Nebula, in reference to the famous Pac-Man video game released in 1980.
Can you see the Pacman Nebula?
Radiation from these stars makes the surrounding gas glow, while a large swathe of dark cosmic dust creates a pizza-piece-like shadow that gives the Pacman Ne bula its nickname. It got the name Pacman Nebula because of its resemblance to Pac-Man, the character from the popular 1980s maze video game. You may also be able to spot it with binoculars or a telescope if you observe it from a very dark place. The version of the Pacman Nebula shown below was taken with my Canon 450D DLSR before it was modified.
The Pacman Nebula (NGC 28) is a large emission nebula that appears near the orange giant Schedar in the constellation Cassiopeia.
How old is the Pacman Nebula?
The version of the Pacman Nebula shown below was taken with my Canon 450D DLSR before it was modified. The dark dust trail spreads unevenly over glowing hydrogen clouds, and its appearance suggests that it is formed by a massive star in the background, obscured by the dark clouds. Below is a selection of images of the Pacman Nebula taken by astrophotographers and readers of BBC Sky at Night Magazine from around the world. The Pacman Nebula is an HII region, which is a low-density cloud of partially ionised gas in which stars have recently formed.
Radiation from these stars causes the surrounding gas to glow, while a large strip of dark cosmic dust creates a pizza-piece-like shadow that gives the Pacman Nebula its nickname.
What is the Pacman Nebula in our galaxy?
NGC 281 is one of several bright emission nebulae in Cassiopeia, including the Bubble Nebula, the Heart Nebula and the Soul Nebula. NGC 281 is also known as the Pacman Nebula because of its resemblance to the character in the computer game of the same name. With an H-alpha filter, the sea of stars around the nebula can be tamed well and the overall contrast improved. To properly appreciate the beauty of this emission nebula, you need to take a series of long exposure images (with tracking) with your camera.
