Wednesday, Dec 18, 2024

IC 4628, also known as the Prawn Nebula, is a fascinating emission nebula located in the constellation Scorpius. Spanning approximately 250 light-years, it showcases intricate structures and vibrant colors due to the ionized gas and young, massive stars within it. The nebula's distinct shape resembles a prawn, hence its name. This celestial beauty offers a captivating glimpse into the birth and evolution of stars. It is another active star-forming region that is not very often imaged. Its relative faintness and its proximity to NGC 6334 and NGC 6188 makes it an overlooked nebula, despite its beauty. In fact, this nebula is not included in the NGC catalog and it is also known as Gum 56 (it was catalogued by the Australian astronomer Colin S. Gum).