IC 410, NGC 1893

IC 410 is a region of faint nebulosity surrounding the open star cluster NGC 1893. It lies in the constellation Auriga, 1.5° E of the brighter and better known Flaming Star Nebula (IC 405).

In appearance, IC 410 resembles the Rosette Nebula in Monocerus. Medium-sized instruments show 40 faint stars elongated N-S lying within a triangle of 9th magnitude stars. The cluster is set in a very rich star field and is also embedded in the nebulosity of IC 410. Without a filter, the nebulosity is very difficult to observe.

IC 410 lies about 12,000 light-years away, and is over 100 light-years across. It has been sculpted by stellar winds and radiation from the embedded open star cluster NGC 1893. Formed in the interstellar cloud a mere 4 million years ago, the radiation from these hot stars pushes the gas away from them and creates dark "tadpoles" trailing away from the nebula's central regions. These streamers of denser gas resist the erosive radiation from the hot stars. The tails have grown to 10 light years in length, and are potentially sites of ongoing star formation.