The Ghost Nebula (aka IC 63) is located 550 light-years away in the constellation Cassiopeia the Queen. The nebula’s glow reminds some people of the apparitions reported by paranormal investigators. In reality, it’s simply radiation from hydrogen that is being bombarded with ultraviolet light by the nearby blue-giant star Gamma Cassiopeiae (not seen in this picture). The blue light is starlight reflected by the nebula’s dust.
Image Credit: NASA / ESA
This image was taken using the Mayall 4-meter telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory.The Ghost Nebula, which is cataloged as vdB 141, is a reflection nebula located in the constellation Cepheus.Its awkward catalog number is derived from Sidney van den Bergh’s catalog of reflection nebulae, published in 1966. Several stars are embedded in the nebula. Their light gives it a ghoulish brown color.