NGC 281 Pacman Nebula in Cassiopeia

This emission nebula is around 9500 lightyears distant and approximately 100 lightyears across. It is so named because of its resemblance to the video game graphic. Dark Bok globules and strands of dark nebulosity can be seen scattered across the nebula. Towards the left-hand side are several finger-like objects, eroded by stellar winds, containing nascent stars. These are similar to those in the famous image by the Hubble telescope, of the 'Pillars of Creation' in the Eagle Nebula.

This image is the result of 10h of data capture, over four evenings in September and October 2020.

ZWO ASI071MC Pro camera through an 8-inch Teleskop-Service Ritchey-Chretien reflector. This telescope is similar in design to the Hubble telescope, though of course on a much smaller scale.

Date: 26/10/2020

Photographer: Graham Wilcock

NGC 281 Pacman Nebula in Cassiopeia

This emission nebula is around 9500 lightyears distant and approximately 100 lightyears across. It is so named because of its resemblance to the video game graphic. Dark Bok globules and strands of dark nebulosity can be seen scattered across the nebula. Towards the left-hand side are several finger-like objects, eroded by stellar winds, containing nascent stars. These are similar to those in the famous image by the Hubble telescope, of the 'Pillars of Creation' in the Eagle Nebula.

This image is the result of 10h of data capture, over four evenings in September and October 2020.

ZWO ASI071MC Pro camera through an 8-inch Teleskop-Service Ritchey-Chretien reflector. This telescope is similar in design to the Hubble telescope, though of course on a much smaller scale.

Date: 26/10/2020

Photographer: Graham Wilcock