IC-410 Tadpole Nebula

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)