Pacman Nebula
Also known as NGC 281
Pacman Nebula is an HII region (glowing hydrogen) in the constellation Cassiopeia, about 10,110 light-years from Earth.
Emission nebula in Cassiopeia
Facts
| Type | HII region (glowing hydrogen) |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Cassiopeia |
| Position (J2000) | 0h 52m 59s, +56° 37′ |
| Distance | 10,110 light-years (its light set off about 10,110 years ago) |
| Size on the sky | 35′ × 30′ (the full Moon is about 31′) |
| Filter | UHC (narrowband) filter (Glowing gas shines in a few colours of hydrogen and oxygen: a UHC filter passes those and blocks most light pollution and sky glow.) |
| Studied in | 251 scientific papers (SIMBAD) |
When and how to see it
Pacman Nebula is highest in the sky at midnight in October. From India (about 20° N) it climbs to about 53° above the horizon; from 50° N, to about 83°.
Heights are worked out for India and for 50° N. Set your location in Settings to see them for where you are.
For tonight's best time from your own town, the darkness and the Moon, open it on the map and see its "Tonight from your location" card.
More in Cassiopeia
- Bubble Nebula
- Cassiopeia A
- Fish Head Nebula
- Heart Nebula
- M52 (NGC 7654)
- M103 (NGC 581)
- Soul Nebula
- Tycho's Supernova
Everything in Cassiopeia · All 88 constellations · All sky objects
Data: SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg; the site's weekly copy) · OpenNGC · Data sources & credits