IC 405 - Flaming Star Nebula

Jan 2026
author image @sharon Stuttgart, Botnang
IC  405

Integrated approximately 12 hours of imaging time using a dual narrowband (Ha | OIII) filter on this nebula.

Processing:

The image was stretched using the VeraLux HyperMetric Stretch script, followed by a pseudo-SHO color palette workflow based on Lukomatico's Tutorial .

Wikipedia:

IC 405 (also known as the Flaming Star Nebula, SH 2-229, or Caldwell 31) is an emission and reflection nebula in the constellation Auriga, north of the celestial equator. It surrounds the bluish, irregular variable star AE Aurigae and shines at magnitude +6.0.

The nebula lies near the emission nebula IC 410, the open clusters M38 and M36, and the K-type star Iota Aurigae.

IC 405 measures approximately 37.0′ × 19.0′ and is located about 1,500 light-years from Earth. It is roughly 5 light-years across. The proper motion of its central star can be traced back to the Orion’s Belt region.

Filter SV220 Dual Narrowband
Lights 143
Single Exposure 300 sec
Total Exposure 11 hr 55 min
Gain 101
Offset 200
Temp (°C) -10.0 °C
Capture Dates Moon Illumination
19 January 2026 New Moon (0.12%)
20 January 2026 Waxing Crescent (1.54%)