| IC 405 | |
| Type: | emission |
| Dist Ly: | 1500 |
| Appmag V: | +6.0? |
| Size V: | 37 × 10 |
| Radius Ly: | 2.5 |
| Names: | Flaming Star Nebula, Caldwell 31, Sharpless 229 |
IC 405 (also known as the Flaming Star Nebula, SH 2-229, or Caldwell 31) is an emission and reflection nebula[1] in the constellation Auriga north of the celestial equator, surrounding the bluish, irregular variable star AE Aurigae. It shines at magnitude +6.0. Its celestial coordinates are RA dec .[2] It is located near the emission nebula IC 410, the open clusters M38 and M36, and the K-class star Iota Aurigae.
The nebula measures approximately 37.0' x 19.0', and lies about 1,500 light-years away from Earth.[2] It is believed that the proper motion of the central star can be traced back to the Orion's Belt area.[2] The nebula is about 5 light-years across.[1]