Have you ever looked up at the night sky and seen a familiar 8-bit icon? Nestled within the constellation Cassiopeia lies NGC 281, also known as the Pacman Nebula – a vibrant cloud of gas and dust that bears an uncanny resemblance to the classic arcade character. But this nebula is much more than just a nostalgic video game reference; it's a dynamic stellar nursery brimming with activity and holding the key to understanding star formation. A Glowing Ghost with a Cosmic Bite The Pacman Nebula is an emission nebula, a vast interstellar cloud primarily composed of hydrogen gas. These nebulas glow brightly due to the energetic radiation from nearby stars. In this case, the illumination comes from a young open star cluster called IC 1590 embedded within the nebula's heart. The intense ultraviolet light from these hot, massive stars excites the surrounding gas, causing it to emit a characteristic red glow. However, the twist that gives NGC 281 its nickname is the presence of a thick ...
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