IC 63

Common Name: The Ghost of Cassiopeia

Object Type: Reflection & Emission Nebula

Constellation: Cassiopeia

Distance from Earth: 550 Light years

Apparent Magnitude: 10.0

Coordinates: RA 01H 01M 00S DEC 61 deg 02 min 42 sec

Actual Size: 1 light year in diameter

Apparent Dimensions: 2.7 arc-minutes

Discovered by: IC 63 was discovered by Max Wolf in 1893

Description: About 550 light-years away in the constellation of Cassiopeia lies IC 63, a stunning and slightly eerie nebula. Also known as the ghost of Cassiopeia, IC 63 is being shaped by radiation from a nearby unpredictably variable star, Gamma Cassiopeiae, which is slowly eroding away the ghostly cloud of dust and gas.
This celestial ghost makes the perfect backdrop for the feast of All Hallow's Eve — better known as Halloween.
IC 63 is an area of molecular hydrogen clouds and dust.
This region is both an emission nebula and a reflection nebula.
The gas and dust in this region are bombarded with radiation from the bright star Gamma Cassiopeia.
This Blue-White Giant star forms the middle star in the "W" form made by the constellation. It has a radius that is 14 times larger than our own Sun, while also being 55,000 times more luminous and 19 times more massive. Added to this is the fact that it is only 3 or light-years away from the nebula. and bathes it in ultraviolet light, which causes the hydrogen gas to glow in the red part of the spectrum.
Areas of blue can also be seen, which is due to light reflected from the gas dust in the nebula.
The colors in the eerie nebula showcase how the nebula is affected by the powerful radiation from the distant star.
The hydrogen within IC 63 is being bombarded with ultraviolet radiation from Gamma Cassiopeiae, causing its electrons to gain energy which they later release as hydrogen-alpha radiation — visible in red.
This hydrogen-alpha radiation makes IC 63 an emission nebula, but we also see blue light.
This is light from Gamma Cassiopeiae that has been reflected by dust particles in the nebula, meaning that IC 63 is also a reflection nebula. This colorful and ghostly nebula is slowly dissipating under the influence of ultraviolet radiation from Gamma Cassiopeiae. However, IC 63 is not the only object under the influence of the mighty star.
It is part of a much larger nebulous region surrounding Gamma Cassiopeiae that measures approximately two degrees on the sky — roughly four times as wide as the full Moon.

Click Below Image(s) for Full Size:

IC63 is a challenging objects to spot with telescopes for a number of reasons. The nebula is faint at apparent mag. +10, they have extremely low surface brightness and surround bright variable star gamma Cas (γ Cas).
This remarkable star is partly unstable and is known as a "shell star". It currently shines at mag. +2.15, making it the brightest star in Cassiopeia.
IC63 is best seen from the Northern Hemisphere during the months of October, November and December.

Platesolve

IC 63 Emission and Reflection Nebulae

Imaging Details
Click to Return to Home Page