
Pacman Nebula Hubble image 2011 - NGC 281
NGC 281 - The Pacman Nebula - October 2021 Nebula photos challenge - Cassiopeia
The month of October is all about Cassiopeia and the Pacman Nebula, while small, is fascinating.
First discovered in 1883 it is the most recently discovered deep space object I have ever photographed. Typically the more recent the discovery, the most difficult the object is to capture.
This emission nebula is located far away from us in our galaxy, about 9,500 light years away. Despite it's small relative size in our night sky this nebula is 48 light years across.
My final image is 6 hours of exposures through a CLS filter with the Canon Ra. This combination helps to isolate the Ha spectrum of light emitted from this beautiful star factory.
Object: NGC 281 - The Pacman Nebula
Exposure: 330x90sec ( 5 hr. 30 min. total)
Bortle scale: 4 - our backyard in Estes Park, Colorado
Optics: William Optics Redcat 51
Camera: Canon EOS Ra
Mount: Star Adventurer
Filters: Astronomik CLS clip in
Software: StarrySkyStacker, Photoshop
~Clear Skies~

Benes Photography - Pacman Nebula captured on October 4-5, 2021