The Flaming Star Nebula (IC 405, left) and the Tadpole Nebula (IC 410, right) form one of Auriga’s most dynamic emission-reflection pairings. IC 405 glows in deep hydrogen emission shaped by the powerful ultraviolet radiation of the runaway O-type star AE Aurigae. Its delicate blue tones come from reflected starlight scattering off fine dust, while the surrounding crimson gas creates sweeping filaments that look almost fluid as they drift across the field. To the right, IC 410 reveals a brighter, more compact core where newly formed stars energize surrounding hydrogen. Embedded dark lanes and sculpted billows of gas give the nebula its textured appearance.

Across the frame, both nebulae are set inside a richly glowing hydrogen complex threaded with faint dust. The contrast between the soft, wispy emission of IC 405 and the denser, more structured glow of IC 410 highlights two different stages of stellar feedback shaping the same interstellar cloud. Together they form a dramatic portrait of star formation, radiation, and the turbulent processes that continually reshape the Milky Way’s nearby star-forming regions.

This three-panel mosaic showcases the intriguing nebulae IC 417, IC 410, and IC 405, captured in HaLRGB. These emission nebulae are located in the constellation Auriga and present a stunning array of colors and structures.

IC 417, often referred to as the Spider Nebula, lies approximately 10,000 light-years from Earth. It features a cluster of young stars known as Stock 8, whose intense radiation ionizes the surrounding gas, creating the nebula's characteristic glow.

IC 410, also known as the Tadpoles Nebula, is located about 12,000 light-years away. It contains the open star cluster NGC 1893, which energizes the nebula. Notably, IC 410 includes two striking "tadpole" structures, which are dense regions of gas and dust being sculpted by stellar winds and radiation.

IC 405, the Flaming Star Nebula, is roughly 1,500 light-years from Earth. It is illuminated by the variable star AE Aurigae, which is believed to have been ejected from the Orion Nebula region millions of years ago. The interaction of AE Aurigae's intense light with the surrounding hydrogen gas creates a spectacular emission and reflection nebula, exhibiting striking red and blue hues.

Together, these nebulae form a vibrant tapestry of star formation and cosmic activity, offering a vivid glimpse into the dynamic processes shaping our galaxy.

Image Description and Details :

This was shot over the course of 18 nights, spanning 4 months (winter skies in Nashville aren't the greatest). The Canon lens was @ f/4.

The real challenge with this photo came from the Spaghetti Nebula (aka SH2-240, Simeis 147). It's incredibly dim and barely shows up in a single 20 minute sub, which is in stark contrast to brightness of the Flaming Star Nebula (IC 405, SH 2-229, or Caldwell 31) and Tadpoles Nebula (IC 410, NGC 1893). I had to process this as HDR so that they appeared to have the same brightness.

Imaging lens: Canon EF 85 mm f/1.8 USM
Imaging cameras: ZWO ASI2600MC Pro
Mounts: Sky-Watcher EQ6R-PRO
Guiding telescopes or lenses: ZWO Mini Guide Scope
Guiding cameras: ZWO ASI290MM Mini
Software: Pleiades Astrophoto PixInisight · Photoshop CC
Filters: Optlong L-eXtreme 2" · Optolong L-eNhance 2"
Accessory: ZWO AsiAir Pro

Dates:
Dec. 10, 2020, Dec. 11, 2020, Dec. 13, 2020, Dec. 18, 2020, Dec. 21, 2020, Dec. 22, 2020, Jan. 6, 2021, Jan. 13, 2021, Jan. 14, 2021, Feb. 4, 2021, Feb. 8, 2021, March 4, 2021, March 5, 2021, March 7, 2021, March 8, 2021, March 9, 2021, March 10, 2021, March 11, 2021

Frames:
Optolong L-Pro 2'': 40x15" (gain: 100.00) -10C bin 1x1
Optolong L-Pro 2'': 40x30" (gain: 100.00) -10C bin 1x1
Optolong L-Pro 2'': 40x60" (gain: 100.00) -10C bin 1x1
Optolong L-eNhance 2": 143x1200" (gain: 100.00) -10C bin 1x1
Optolong L-eXtreme 2": 56x1200" (gain: 100.00) -10C bin 1x1

Integration: 67.5 hours

Darks: ~40

Bortle Dark-Sky Scale: 8.00



Copyright: Jeffrey Horne

One of the most beautiful paintings that our sky allows us to admire in photography.
In this image we can see IC405, a nebula that can only be admired well in photos, placed at 1630 light years from us and illuminated by a variable star, AE Aurigae. This star ionizes the gases of the nebula giving it the red color.