IC 405：火焰恒星星云

2020 January 7

IC 405: The Flaming Star Nebula
Image Credit & Copyright: Eric Coles and Mel Helm

Explanation: Rippling dust and gas lanes give the Flaming Star Nebula its name. The orange and purple colors of the nebula are present in different regions and are created by different processes. The bright star AE Aurigae, visible toward the image left, is so hot it is blue, emitting light so energetic it knocks electrons away from surrounding gas. When a proton recaptures an electron, red light is frequently emitted (depicted here in orange). The purple region’s color is a mix of this red light and blue light emitted by AE Aurigae but reflected to us by surrounding dust. The two regions are referred to as emission nebula and reflection nebula, respectively. Pictured here in the Hubble color palette, the Flaming Star Nebula, officially known as IC 405, lies about 1500 light years distant, spans about 5 light years, and is visible with a small telescope toward the constellation of the Charioteer (Auriga).

IC 405：火焰恒星星云
影像来源与版权：Eric Coles 和 Mel Helm

说明：火焰恒星星云的名称来源于其周围涟漪般的尘埃和气体条带。星云不同区域所分别呈现出的橙色和紫色产生于不同的物理进程。左侧的亮星是御夫座AE，温度极高故为蓝色。它所发出的光线具有很高的能量，能使得周围气体内的电子脱离出来。当电子被质子重新俘获时，就会发出红色波段的光 (在图中为橙色)。紫色区域的颜色是由这种红光和御夫座AE所发出的、被周围的尘埃反射的蓝光混合而成。这两种区域分别被称作发射星云和反射星云 。使用哈勃望远镜调色板方式着色的这张照片中的火焰恒星星云，其正式名称为IC 405, 距离我们大约1500光年, 跨度约5光年，使用小望远镜可以在御夫座中观测到。