Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Cassiopeia (Cas)  ·  Contains:  HD5777  ·  HD5890  ·  IC 59  ·  IC 63  ·  LBN 620  ·  LBN 622  ·  LBN 623  ·  LBN 625  ·  PGC 2796487  ·  PGC 2796488  ·  PGC 2796500  ·  Sh2-185  ·  gamma Cas nebula
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IC 59 & IC 63 The Ghost of Cassiopeia, Dale A Chamberlain
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Getting plate-solving status, please wait...
IC 59 & IC 63 The Ghost of Cassiopeia, Dale A Chamberlain
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Description

IC 59 (left) and IC 63 (right) are a combination of faint, arc-shaped emission and reflection nebulae located about 600 light-years away in the constellation Cassiopeia. Together they are approximately 10 light-years across.

The bluish glow shining down from the top comes from the intense radiation of the bright, hot star Gamma Cassiopeia which is located only 3 to 4 light-years from the nebulae and may also have shed this nebulous material into the space around it. The edges of the nebulae glow brightly from this intense radiation that is slowly evaporating and lighting up these flowing shapes of gas and dust.

IC 63 — the brighter of the two and slightly closer to Gamma Cassiopeia than IC 59 — is a combination of an emission and reflection nebula. Unlike a reflection nebula which appears blue, the glowing hydrogen gas appears red. IC 59 is primarily a reflection nebula, showing much less red hydrogen, and appears blue of dust reflected starlight that is passing through it.

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