Emission Nebula and Open Star Cluster located in the constellation of Auriga. Below the star cluster,
near the 7 o'clock position in this view are two relatively dense streamers of material trailing away from the nebula's central regions.
Potentially sites of ongoing star formation, these cosmic tadpole shapes are about 10 light-years long.

H-alpha image taken December 25 2011 from Newbury Park, California

90 minutes 1x binned, 15 minute sub-exposures

Total Exposure Time = 1 hour 30 min

For a color version of this image, click on this link: http://www.pbase.com/image/140986332