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May 2025, 2025 Charles Lillo May 2025, 2025 Charles Lillo

The Flaming Star and Tadpole Nebulae – A Fiery Embrace in Auriga

This vivid, high-resolution mosaic captures the emission nebulae IC 405 (left) and IC 410 (right) in a glowing hydrogen-oxygen blend, revealing sweeping tendrils of interstellar gas in the constellation Auriga. The Flaming Star Nebula (IC 405) surrounds the runaway star AE Aurigae, whose motion and radiation energize the swirling, flame-like hydrogen clouds. To the right, IC 410 hosts the young open cluster NGC 1893, whose hot, newborn stars shape the surrounding gas, including the iconic "Tadpoles" — dark, sinuous pillars of star-forming material.

Rendered in a refined HOO palette with subtle RGB enhancements, this image integrates 80 hours of exposure collected over two months. The long integration allows faint filamentary structures and faint OIII cores to emerge without overwhelming the natural depth. Wisps of hydrogen weave around both nebulae, linking them in a turbulent, star-forming environment that hints at the immense energy and complexity of stellar evolution.

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