NGC 281 / PACMAN NEBULA

NGC 281 is an emission nebula in the constellation Cassiopeia. surrounds the open cluster IC 1590. It is sometimes called the Pacman Nebula.

It is located 1.5 degrees east of the star α Cassiopeiae; Powerful instruments are needed to be able to detect the nebula, which is certainly the most important object, given that the cluster associated with it is made up of a few stars and dominated by a double star of eighth magnitude. The nebula appears to be clearly furrowed by a dark vein, which crosses it in an east-west direction; Perpendicular to this one is another, facing south: thus a "T" is formed that profoundly marks the whole object.