NGC 281

Location

Taken From Light Buckets in Rodeo New Mexico

Telescope & Mount

12.5" RC Optical F9 on Paramount ME

Camera

Apogee 4096 x 4096 U16M

Image Data

HA  300m - 30m subs, 1x1 at -30

O3  270m-  30m subs, 1x1 at -30

S2  270m - 30m subs, 1x1 at -30

Total of 14 hours exposure

Processing

Processed in Maxin/Photoshop and Images Plus

About this Object

NGC 281 is an H II region in the constellation of Cassiopeia and part of the Perseus Spiral Arm. It includes the open cluster IC 1590, the multiple star HD 5005, and several Bok globules. Colloquially, NGC 281 is also known as the Pacman Nebula for its resemblance to the video game character.

The nebula was discovered in August 1883 by E. E. Barnard, who described it as "a large faint nebula, very diffuse."