Stirling Astronomical Society Gallery

The Flaming Star Nebula is an emission and reflection nebula in Auriga, surrounding and energised by the variable star AE Aurigae. This image also shows IC 410, the Tadpole Nebula (bottom centre). Although both objects appear in the same field of view, they are at greatly different distances, with IC 405 located approximately 1500 light years from Earth, and IC 410 much further, at over 12000 light years. Image taken in Hydrogen-α using narrowband filters.