Sh2-229 — Flaming Star Region
HII Region in Auriga
About
The Flaming Star Nebula, also listed as IC 405 and Caldwell 31, in Auriga about 1,500 light-years away. Its gas glows and also reflects light, and it is wrapped around AE Aurigae, a bluish star that varies irregularly. It is roughly 5 light-years across.
Imaging tips
- Sources give the nebula as about 37′ × 19′, so a field of roughly a degree holds it.
- The gas has both emission and reflection light, so narrowband captures the glowing hydrogen while the reflection part needs broadband data.
- One imager logged about 20 hours 24 minutes of 3-minute dual-band subs across two panels, processed in an HSO palette.
- IC 410 and the open clusters M36 and M38 lie nearby, so a wider field can take in neighbours.
- Best in November and December, peaking near 74° altitude from 50°N.
Facts
- Size
- 30′
- Magnitude
- —
- Coordinates
- RA 5h 16.3m, Dec +34° 33′
- Framing, APS-C
- 810–1350 mm
- Framing, full frame
- 1240–2060 mm
- Best months
- Nov, Dec
- Peak altitude
- 75° from 50°N, 90° from 35°N
Nearby
- C31 (Flaming Star Nebula) · 17.0′ away