AE Aurigae and the
Flaming Star Nebula
From NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day
AE Aurigae is called the flaming star. The surrounding nebula IC 405 is named the Flaming Star Nebula and the region seems to harbor smoke, but
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.
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 near the nebula center, is so hot it
is blue, emitting light so energetic it knocks electrons away from atoms in the surrounding gas. When an atom
recaptures an electron, light is emitted creating the surrounding emission nebula.
In this cosmic portrait, 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).
Image Credit & Copyright: Martin Pugh
