NGC 1491

Detail of Ionizing Star and Bubble

The above image is a crop of an Ha image of NGC 1491. The arrow points to the young, hot mag 11.2 star (BD +50 886) that is supplying the ionizing radiation that has lit up this area of nebulosity and blown away the gas clouds, forming the pillars in the foreground. It is also responsible for forming the bubble that is circled.