IC 1284

IC 1284 is a bright emission nebula located in the constellation Sagittarius, approximately 5,000 light-years from Earth. It is part of a complex region that also includes reflection nebulae and dark nebulae. The red glow of IC 1284 is caused by ionized hydrogen gas excited by nearby young, hot stars. The region contains active star-forming areas and is associated with the open clusters NGC 6595 and NGC 6589, making it a rich target for studying early stellar evolution and nebular interactions.