Astronomy Picture of the Day -- AE Aurigae and the Flaming Star Nebula

NASA ^ | November 10, 2015 | (see photo credit)

[SunkenCiv]

Explanation: Is star AE Aurigae on fire? No. Even though AE Aurigae is named the flaming star, the surrounding nebula IC 405 is named the Flaming Star Nebula, and the region appears to have the color of fire, there is no fire. Fire, typically defined as the rapid molecular acquisition of oxygen, happens only when sufficient oxygen is present and is not important in such high-energy, low-oxygen environments such as stars. The material that appears as smoke is mostly interstellar hydrogen, but does contain smoke-like dark filaments of carbon-rich dust grains. The bright star AE Aurigae, visible toward the right near the nebula's center, is so hot it is blue, emitting light so energetic it knocks electrons away from surrounding gas. When a proton recaptures an electron, light is emitted, as seen in the surrounding emission nebula. Pictured above, the Flaming Star nebula lies about 1,500 light years distant, spans about 5 light years, and is visible with a small telescope toward the constellation of the Charioteer (Auriga).

[SunkenCiv]

[Credit and Copyright: Jesús Vargas (Sky-Astrophotography) & Maritxu Poyal (Maritxu)]

[SunkenCiv]

The Big One

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[Talisker]

Wow! Never saw that one before!

[Gene Eric]

>> light is emitted ... spans about 5 light years

Dude, how long to render that motion blur?

[Conan the Librarian]

One of my favorite parts of the sky!

AE Auriga (the bright star in the nebula) is also a runaway star. It had it’s start in the Orion Nebula area, and was shot out of that and is speeding out of the galaxy! The rather straight edge of the nebula was caused by the passing of the star.

The whole area is a spectacular part of the Milky Way, with the main highlight being the M38 cluster. Now that Auriga is on the rise after Sunset, it’s time to break out the scopes and go looking. Unless you are in SE Georgia then all you have is a rain collector.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks CtL!