Pacman Nebula (NGC 281): Facts, Formation, Location
The Pacman Nebula (NGC 281) is an emission nebula located 9,500 light-years in the constellation Cassiopeia. It spans a radius of 48 light-years and resembles a mouth with a Pacman-like shape. NGC 281 consists of vast interstellar clouds of gas and dust illuminated by stars at its center, including the cluster IC 1590. The nebula’s nickname comes from its resemblance to the video game character Pac-Man, with a dust lane creating the illusion of Pac-Man’s mouth.
Edward Emerson Barnard discovered the Pacman Nebula in August 1883. The nebula contains dark Bok globules and dust lanes composed of carbon and silicates. NGC 281 is a star-forming region classified as an HII region due to its young stars and ionized hydrogen. The nebula is 3.5 million years old and resides in the Perseus arm of the Milky Way galaxy, positioned 1,000 light-years above the galactic plane.
The Cassiopeia constellation hosts the Pacman Nebula and is known for its “W” shape formed by five stars. The constellation is visible from the Northern Hemisphere, making NGC 281 a target for astrophotographers and stargazers. Viewing occurs from September to February for northern hemisphere observers.
Pacman Nebula is composed of hydrogen (70-80%) and helium (20-30%), with a mass of 1,000 solar masses. The nebula’s temperature ranges from 10,000 to 100,000 Kelvin. Stars within the nebula, including the supergiant HD 5005, ionize the surrounding gas, causing it to emit light across wavelengths. Bok globules within the nebula serve as birthplaces for stars, acting as incubators for star formation.
What is the Pacman Nebula (NGC 281)?
The Pacman Nebula (NGC 281) is an emission nebula in the constellation Cassiopeia. NGC 281 lies 9,500 light years from Earth and spans 80 light years. The Pacman Nebula resembles a giant, glowing mouth with a Pacman-like shape. The Pacman Nebula consists of a vast interstellar cloud of gas and dust illuminated by stars at its center.
The Pacman Nebula stars include a cluster of stars known as IC 1590. IC 1590 contains 20-30 stars that ionize the surrounding gas, causing it to emit light. The Pacman Nebula star, HD 5005, is a blue-white supergiant with a surface temperature of 45,000 Kelvin (44,727°C, 80.540°F) and a mass 20-30 times that of the Sun. HD 5005’s radiation and stellar winds sculpt the surrounding gas, shaping the nebula’s appearance.
The Pacman Nebula constellation, Cassiopeia, is known by its “W” shape formed by five stars. Cassiopeia is visible from the Northern Hemisphere, making NGC 281 a target for astrophotographers and stargazers. The Pacman Nebula emits light across wavelengths, including hydrogen-alpha (Hα), hydrogen-beta (Hβ), and oxygen III (O III) emission lines.
What type of nebula is the Pacman Nebula?
The Pacman Nebula (NGC 281) is an HII emission nebula. The central cavity of the nebula creates a Pacman-like shape. IC 1590, a young open star cluster, lies at the nebula’s heart. O-type stars in IC 1590 ionize surrounding gas.
The Pacman Nebula contains Bok globules, dense pockets of gas and dust measuring 1-10 light-years in diameter. These globules serve as incubators for star formation, with masses ranging from 1-100 solar masses. The nebula produces stars and contains protostars embedded within clouds of gas and dust. O-type star HD 5005 resides in the Pacman Nebula, ionizing the surrounding gas. The ionized gas emits light visible from distances, sculpted over time by newly formed stars.
What is the temperature of the Pacman Nebula?
Pacman Nebula (NGC 281) temperature measures 10,000 Kelvin (9,727°C, 17,540°F). Spectroscopy analysis confirms this measurement. The temperature indicates above-average ionization and gas excitation. 10,000 Kelvin (9,727°C, 17,540°F) falls within the typical nebula range of 5,000-20,000 Kelvin. This data was provided by the NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database.
What is the radius of the Pacman Nebula?
The Pacman Nebula’s radius measures 48 light-years. NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope observations indicate a radius of 20 light-years across. Discrepancies in measurements result from the nebula’s varying densities and structures throughout its expanse. Astronomers study the Pacman Nebula using the Hubble Space Telescope and Spitzer Space Telescopes.
What is the magnitude of the Pacman Nebula?
The Pacman Nebula (NGC 281) has a magnitude of 7.4. Apparent magnitude indicates brightness. The nebula’s magnitude is comparable to the North Star (Polaris) at 2.0. SIMBAD Database provides this data. Observers can view Pacman Nebula with binoculars or telescopes under dark skies. The nebula’s brightness results from radiation from stars within.
What are interesting facts about the Pacman Nebula?
The interesting facts about the Pacman Nebula are listed below.
- The Pacman Nebula is located between 9,200 and 9,500 light-years away in the Perseus arm of the Milky Way galaxy.
- The Pacman Nebula is estimated to be 3.5 million years old.
- The nebula resides in the constellation Cassiopeia, positioned 1,000 light-years above the galactic plane.
- The Pacman Nebula spans a radius of 48 light-years.
- The nebula is classified as an emission nebula.
- NGC 281 earned its nickname “Pacman Nebula” due to its resemblance to the video game character Pac-Man.
- The Pacman Nebula’s appearance, with dust lanes composed of carbon and silicates, creates the illusion of Pac-Man’s mouth.
- The Pacman Nebula is a star-forming region, classified as an HII region due to its young stars and ionized hydrogen.
- Edward Emerson Barnard discovered the Pacman Nebula in August 1883.
- The Pacman Nebula provides an understanding on star and galaxy evolution.
- The nebula contains thick dark dust lanes and Bok globules.
- The Pacman Nebula encompasses the cluster IC 1590, adding to its complexity and scientific interest.
How was the Pacman Nebula formed?
The Pacman Nebula was formed from a giant molecular cloud in the Milky Way galaxy. A formation cluster of stars emerged at the center of the nebula 3.5 million years ago. These formed stars triggered star generation within the surrounding interstellar cloud of gas and dust.
Stellar winds and radiation from the central star cluster began shaping the nebula. The powerful stellar winds blew surrounding material, revealing the star-forming regions referred to as “star dough”. Radiation from the young stars ionized the gas and dust in the cloud, creating an emission nebula.
The Pacman Nebula measures 100 light-years across and contains ionized gas that emits light at specific wavelengths. Gas temperatures within the nebula reach up to 10,000 Kelvin, with densities ranging from 10-100 particles per cubic centimeter. The nebula’s “mouth” and “jaw” features resulted from the bubble structure created by stellar winds and radiation.
The Pacman Nebula remains a star-forming region with ongoing stellar birth. Stars continue to form within the nebula, shaping its morphology and maintaining its appearance. Located in the constellation Cassiopeia, 9,500 light-years from Earth, the Pacman Nebula serves as a subject for scientists studying star formation processes.
What shape is the Pacman Nebula?
The Pacman Nebula exhibits a heart-shaped or bipolar appearance when viewed from angles. Emission nebula NGC 281 resembles the iconic video game character Pacman in certain wavelengths. The nebula’s shape results from internal dust lanes and denser gas regions. The nebula’s heart structure spans 80 light-years across at a distance of 9,500 light-years from Earth.
How did the Pacman Nebula get its name?
NGC 281, known as Pacman Nebula, received its name from NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope team in 2009. The nebula’s shape resembles the 1980s video game character Pac-Man. Astronomers refer to NGC 281 as Pacman Nebula due to its unique curved rim and dark interior, mimicking Pac-Man’s mouth and eyes.
In which constellation is the Pacman Nebula located?
The Cassiopeia constellation hosts the Pacman Nebula. Cassiopeia, an asterism in the sky, bears the name of a queen from Greek mythology. The nebula can be viewed from September to February by northern hemisphere observers.
In which galaxy is the Pacman Nebula located?
The Pacman Nebula resides in the Milky Way galaxy. The Pacman Nebula is situated in the constellation Cassiopeia and classified as an emission nebula with coordinates 00h 52m 25.1s +56° 33′ 54″.
How far is the Pacman Nebula from Earth?
The Pacman Nebula lies 9,200-9,500 light years from Earth. Distance measurements vary between studies. Pacman Nebula spans 48 arc minutes in the night sky, showcasing its size despite its distance.
How to find the Pacman Nebula through a telescope?
To find Pacman Nebula through a telescope follow the steps outlined below.
- Obtain a star chart or astronomy app to identify the position of the Pacman Nebula (NGC 281).
- Locate the constellation Cassiopeia and its “W” shape in the night sky.
- Aim the telescope southeast of Cassiopeia’s “W” shape to find NGC 281.
- Use a power eyepiece to help locate the general area of the Pacman Nebula.
- Adjust to higher magnification to reveal more details of the nebula’s structure.
- Employ narrowband filters to enhance contrast and visibility of the nebula.
- Find a dark sky location away from light pollution to improve visibility.
- Allow your eyes to adapt to the darkness for optimal perception.
- Use the averted vision technique to pick up finer details of the nebula.
- Employ an aperture telescope with a stable mount to minimize vibrations.
- Identify the IC 1590 star cluster inside the nebula’s “mouth” using power eyepieces.
Locating the Pacman Nebula requires a star chart or astronomy app for positioning. The nebula is situated in the constellation Cassiopeia, 9,500 light-years from Earth. Observers aim their telescopes southeast of Cassiopeia’s “W” shape to find NGC 281.
Using a power eyepiece helps locate the area of the Pacman Nebula. The nebula appears as a diffuse object resembling a pinkish-red emission nebula. Switching to higher magnification reveals details of the nebula’s structure. Narrowband filters enhance contrast and visibility, picking up details of the Pacman shape.
Sky locations away from light pollution support visibility of the Pacman Nebula. Observers allow their eyes to adapt to darkness for better perception. The averted vision technique helps pick up details of the nebula’s structure. Aperture telescopes with mounts provide views and minimize vibrations during observation.
Astrophotographers capture the Pac-Man shape of NGC 281 over nights. The nebula’s shape resembles the Pac-Man video game character, with dark lanes of interstellar dust forming the “mouth.” Observers try to locate the IC 1590 star cluster inside the Pacman Nebula’s “mouth” using power eyepieces.
What is Pacman Nebula made of?
The Pacman Nebula consists of vast interstellar gas and dust clouds. The nebula contains hydrogen (70-80%) and helium (20-30%). Collections of gas and dust form dark globules within Pacman Nebula. Stars exist in the Pacman Nebula, ionizing surrounding gas. Pacman Nebula spans 80 light-years across with a mass of 1,000 solar masses.
The components of Pacman Nebula are detailed in the table below.
| Component | Description | Percentage/Feature | Function/Impact |
| Hydrogen Gas | Bulk component of the nebula’s structure, primarily composed of H II regions | 70% by mass, 90% by volume | Emits light at 656.3 nanometers when ionized by stars; contributes to glowing appearance with a luminosity of 100,000 solar luminosities |
| Helium Gas | Second most abundant gas in the nebula, with a helium-to-hydrogen ratio of 0.1 | 28% by mass, 10% by volume | Part of the overall gas composition, less reactive than hydrogen, with a temperature of 10,000 Kelvin (9,727°C, 17,540°F) |
| Dust | Composed of graphite, silicates, and other elements, with a dust-to-gas ratio of 0.01 | 1.5% by mass | Forms dark lanes with a visual extinction of magnitude 2.0; contributes to star formation with a dust temperature of 20 Kelvin (-253°C, -423°F) |
| Oxygen, Nitrogen, Sulfur | Minor components, with abundances of 0.1, 0.05, and 0.01 times solar, respectively | 0.1% by mass | Contribute to the chemical richness and complexity of the nebula, with emission lines at 500.7, 658.3, and 673.1 nanometers |
| Bok Globules | Dense pockets of gas and dust, with densities of 10^4 cm^-3 and sizes of 0.1 parsecs | 10 prominent features | Serve as star formation incubators, obscuring background light with a visual extinction of magnitude 5.0 |
| IC 1590 | Open star cluster within the nebula, with 100 stars and a total mass of 100 solar masses | N/A | Hosts stars formed from the nebula’s material, showcasing stellar evolution with ages of 1-10 million years |
| Stellar Winds | Winds from young stars, with velocities of 100 km/s (62 miles/second) and mass-loss rates of 10^-6 solar masses per year | N/A | Erode and shape surrounding gas and dust, impacting ongoing star formation with a wind luminosity of 10^3 solar luminosities |
What is the surface area of the Pacman Nebula?
The Pacman Nebula’s surface area is 20,106 square light years. Scientists estimated this value using wavelengths and assuming a spherical shape. A study by the Astronomical Journal related the surface area to the nebula’s star-formation rate and complex magnetic field structure. The nebula’s “Pacman-like” appearance affects surface area calculations.
What is at the center of the Pacman Nebula?
The Pacman Nebula (IC 1590) contains a dense cluster of stars at its center. This cluster serves as an intense star formation site. Numerous young stars are visible within the nebula’s region. Dust lanes form the distinctive “mouth” shape. Bok globules exist within these lanes, acting as birthplaces for stars.
