The Spider (IC 417) and The Fly (NGC 1931) Nebulae in Auriga

The Spider (IC 417) and The Fly (NGC 1931) Nebulae in Auriga

Will the spider ever catch the fly? Not if both are large emission nebulas toward the constellation of the Charioteer (Auriga). The spider-shaped gas cloud in the image center is actually an emission nebula labelled IC 417, while the smaller fly-shaped cloud on the left is dubbed NGC 1931 and is both an emission nebula and a reflection nebula. About 10,000 light-years distant, these nebulas harbor young star clusters. For scale, the more compact NGC 1931 (Fly) is about ten light-years across. The featured deep image, captured over twenty hours during late January in Berkshire, United Kingdom, also shows more diffuse and red-glowing interstellar gas and dust.

Image Description: A star field has a red diffuse glow on the right-hand side. Distinct nebulas appear in the center and on the lower left.

Image Credit & Copyright: Dave Boddington

Dave's website:

https://www.instagram.com/mickael_coulon_astrophoto/
Release Date: Feb. 11, 2025

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