'Pac-Man' Nebula Gobbles Up Space in Stunning Photo

by Nina Sen, SPACE.com Contributor
NGC 281, also referred to as the “Pacman” nebula, is an emission nebula in the constellation Cassiopeia about 9,500 light years from Earth. Astrophotographer Steve Coates of Ocala, Fla., sent SPACE.com this image on Jan. 20, 2014.

With its mouth open wide and teeth bared, the insatiable-looking "Pac-Man" Nebula appears to be gobbling up deep space in this cool night sky photo.

Astrophotographer Steve Coates of Ocala, Fla., sent SPACE.com the stunning image on Jan. 20. He used an Astro-Tech 8 inch Ritchey-Chretien telescope, QSI 683wsg-8 camera, and Losmandy G11 with Gemini II mount to capture the image (Ha data 3 hours, SII and OIII data two hours and 20 minutes each filter). The Pac-Man shape of the nebula is orientated upside down in this view.

Also known as NGC 281, the Pac-Man Nebula is an emission nebula in the constellation Cassiopeia about 9,500 light-years from Earth. One light-year is the distance light travels in one year, or about 6 trillion miles (10 trillion kilometers). [Photos: Strange Nebula Shapes, What Do You See?]

Young star cluster IC 1590, as well as several dense, dark clouds of cosmic dust called bok globules, call the Pac-Man Nebula home.

To see more amazing night sky photos submitted by SPACE.com readers, visit our astrophotography archive.

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