Tadpole Nebula IC410 B 2023 11 19

The Tadpole Nebula (IC 410) is an H II region located approximately 12,400 light-years away in the northern constellation Auriga. It is associated with the young open cluster NGC 1893. The cluster has an apparent magnitude of 7.5 and an apparent size of 11 arcminutes. It is an easy target for small telescopes.

The dusty emission nebula IC 410 is ionized by five hot, blue, O-type stars, HD 242935 (O7.5V), BD +33 1025 (O7V), HD 242908

(O4.5V), HD 242926 (O7Vz), and TYC 2394-1214-1. These massive stars are believed to be the main sources of ionization in the region. They emit high-energy ultraviolet protons that excite the nebula and make it glow.

The nebula is more than 100 light-years across. It is part of a larger star-forming region that is also home to the nearby Flaming Star Nebula (IC 405).

The star cluster NGC 1893 is embedded within the Tadpole Nebula. The estimated age of the stars of NGC 1893 is about 4 million years. These stars are members of the larger Auriga OB2 association.

IC 410 was named the Tadpole Nebula because it hosts tadpole-shaped dark dust clouds that appear as if they were swimming toward the center of the nebula.

The two tadpoles of IC 410 (mid bottom left) are gas globules, small dense knots of dust and gas that give birth to young stars. They are composed of denser and cooler dust and gas.