NGC 281, also named IC 11 or Sh2-184, is a bright emission nebula and part of an HII region in the northern constellation of Cassiopeia. This nebulosi
NGC 281, also named IC 11 or Sh2-184, is a bright emission nebula and part of an HII region in the northern constellation of Cassiopeia. This nebulosity is also associated with open cluster IC 1590, several Bok globules and the multiple star, B 1. It collectively forms Sh2-184. A recent distance measurement is estimated in 9200 light-year from us. Colloquially, NGC 281 is also known as the Pacman Nebula for its resemblance to the video game character. Barnard discovered this nebula in August 1883, who described it as a large faint nebula, very diffuse. Multiple star 'B 1' was later discovered by Burnham. It consists of an 8th-magnitude primary with four companions. There has been no appreciable change in this quintuple system since the first measures were made in 1875. This image was created from photographic material taken with the Oschin Telescope at Mount Palomar Observatory, forming part of the Digitized Sky Survey 2.
Size: 5347px × 5357px
Photo credit: © DAVIDE DE MARTIN/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: 11, 1590, astronomical, astronomy, astrophysical, astrophysics, camera, cassiopeia, cluster, dark, dust, emission, evolution, hii, ic, nebula, observatory, oschin, pacman, palomar, reflection, region, schmidt, sh2-184, space, star, telescope
