Image source: [1]
The PacMan Nebula, named for NASA by its peculiar form, dazzles by the open cluster of stars that are in its interior. This was discovered in August 1883 by E.E. Barnard, who called it a weak but very diffuse nebula.
The field surrounding NGC 281 is rich in stars, as it corresponds to its proximity to the Milky Way. In the center of the nebula I could see the bright HD 5005.
The image we see contains X-ray data from the Chandra observatory in purple, with infrared observations of the Spitzer telescope in red, green, blue. The similarity with the famous video game arcade is palpable. It should be noted that the NGC 281 extends 80 light years and is about 10,000 light-years away in the constellation of Cassiopeia.
More details here: Pacman Nebula
