IC 405 (also known as the Flaming Star Nebula, SH 2-229, or Caldwell 31) is an emission/reflection nebula in the constellation Auriga, surrounding the bluish star AE Aurigae. It shines at magnitude +6.0. Its celestial coordinates are RA 05h 16.2m, dec +34°28′. It surrounds the irregular variable star AE Aurigae and is located near the emission nebula IC 410, the open clusters M38 and M36, and the naked-eye K-class star Hassaleh. The nebula measures approximately 37.0′ x 19.0′, and lies about 1,500 light-years away. It is believed that the proper motion of the central star can be traced back to the Orion’s Belt area.The nebula is about 5 light-years across.

RA center: 79.054 degrees
DEC center: 34.398 degrees
Pixel scale: 1.218 arcsec/pixel
Orientation: 113.028 degrees
Field radius: 0.488 degrees

Author: Francesco Antonucci