Comet C/2022 U2 (ATLAS) near IC 405 and IC 410
Constellation: Auriga
This image covers the region near the Flaming Star (IC 405, Sh2-229) and Tadpole (IC 410) nebulae in the constellation of Auriga. It also contains the emission nebula IC 417. Link to interactive sky chart.
The Flaming Star nebula is an emission and reflection nebula surrounding the bluish, irregular variable star AE Aurigae. The nebula lies about 1’500 Ly from Earth and is about 5 Ly across.
The Tadpole Nebula, located 12’000 Ly from Earth, is an H-II region spanning over 100 lightyears across that is sculpted by stellar winds emanating from open star cluster NGC 1893, which is about 12’400 Ly away from Earth.
The southestern bright nebula IC 417 (sometimes refered to as the Spider nebula) is energized the hot blue mutiple star BD+34 1054 (spectral class O9.5V), as well as some of the neighbouring stars (classes B0.5V to B1.5V). The bluish clouds of gas are locations of new star formation.
While taking this image, Comet C/2022 U2 (ATLAS) passed through the filed of view and can be seen at two time points: before 23:09:05 UTC on Feb 11, 2023 and after 23:37:24 UTC on Feb. 12, 2023. Its closest approach what on Jan. 28, 2023 at 1.345 AU (~200’000’000 Km).
During this imaging session, three visible asteroids were also captured (see annotated image):
- 1046 Edwin (A924 XF)
- 2027 Shen Guo (1964 VR1)
- 8087 Kazutaka (1989 WA2)
These are Main-belt asteroids measuring 11 to 30 Km in diameter.