NGC 281 - PacMan Nebula
NGC 281 is an emission nebula visible in the constellation of Cassiopeia, surrounding the open cluster IC 1590; it is sometimes called the Pac-Man Nebula. It can be found 1.5 degrees east of the star α Cassiopeiae; powerful instruments are needed to spot it, since the associated cluster is made up of only a few stars and is dominated by an eighth-magnitude double star. The nebula is clearly marked by a dark lane running east-west across it; perpendicular to this, a second one runs south, together forming a “T” shape that deeply marks the whole object.
Beyond 1×, the image is enlarged without interpolation, showing the original pixels as they are, so as not to alter the details of the photo.
Scroll to zoom, drag to pan.