New 'Ghosts' Revealed near Gamma Cassiopeiae Star System

New 'Ghosts' Revealed near Gamma Cassiopeiae Star System

It took a hundred hours of observation and a special oxygen filter for this image to capture three faint nebulas hidden in the Cassiopeia constellation. 

Nebulae IC 59 and IC 63, the original 'Ghosts of Cassiopeia', 'haunt' the region near multi-star system Gamma Cassiopeia. Energetic light from Gamma Cassiopeia causes the hydrogen gas in IC 59 and 63 to glow red. Their dust reflects and scatters blue-ish white starlight. Three newly discovered objects appear as blue phantoms, revealing the presence of ionized oxygen. 

Ionized by what? 

Like at the bow of a speeding boat, Gamma Cassiopeia may be piling up material as the system moves through interstellar gas and dust. The origins of these astronomical apparitions remain a mystery to be solved.

The reflection and emission nebulae IC 59 and IC 63 have a cometary shape with IC 63 being the brighter of the two. The variation in appearance between the two nebulae is a consequence of their physical distance from Gamma Cassiopeia.

Credit & Copyright: Louis Leroux-Géré, Thibault Rouillée, Vincent Martin, Cédric de Decker (Starfront Observatories)

Louis' website: 

https://www.instagram.com/lrx.photo/

Thibault's website:

https://www.instagram.com/tybr

Vincent's website:

https://www.instagram.com/vincent.astro/

Cédric's website: 

https://www.instagram.com/lesphotosdecedric/

Authors & Editors: Keighley Rockcliffe, Robert Nemiroff, Jerry Bonnell, Cecilia Chirenti

A service of the Astrophysics Science Division (ASD) at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA Science Activation & Michigan Technological University (MTU)

Date: Oct. 21, 2026

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