The Flame Nebula is a striking emission nebula located in the constellation Orion, cataloged as Sharpless 2-277. Its glowing hydrogen gas produces a warm reddish tone that rewards imagers working with hydrogen-alpha and RGB combinations. The nebula’s intricate dark dust lanes carve dramatic branching structures across the bright emission, making it a favorite for high-resolution deep-sky photography. Because it sits close to a very bright neighboring star, careful framing and gradient control are essential to bring out the nebula’s delicate detail without overwhelming glare.
Names and Catalog numbers
- Flame Nebula
- Sh2-277 (Sharpless 277)
Position and the cosmic neighborhood
The Flame Nebula lies in the equatorial constellation Orion at a right ascension of 05h 42m 22.2s and a declination of -01° 55′ 23″, placing it near the celestial equator where it is accessible from both hemispheres. Its position in the rich Orion region means it shares the sky with numerous other bright nebulae and star-forming clouds, offering imagers the opportunity to capture sweeping mosaics of the surrounding field. The nebula’s proximity to a dazzling nearby star both defines its dramatic appearance and challenges photographers to manage the intense light within the frame.
Nice to Know
- The Flame Nebula is cataloged as Sharpless 2-277, a designation from the Sharpless catalog of emission nebulae.
- It is a classic emission nebula, glowing in the reddish hues of ionized hydrogen that make it a rewarding hydrogen-alpha target.
- The nebula shows a measured radial velocity of 32.1 km/s, corresponding to a redshift of z = 0.00010708.
- Its distinctive dark dust lanes give the nebula its flame-like appearance, a key feature for high-detail astrophotography.
