NGC 281 is an emission nebula and a stellar nursery, giving birth to open cluster IC 1590, which is embedded in the nebula.

NGC 281 is known as the Pac-Man Nebula.

NGC 281 is located in the constellation of Cassiopeia and the nebula is 38 x 35 arcminutes in size. At its estimated distance of 10,000 light-years, the nebula spans some 80 lights years in space.

Discovered by E. E. Barnard in 1883, NGC 281 is located 1.75 degrees east of Shedar, Alpha Cassiopeiae.

North is to the top in the above image.

NGC 281 Catalogs: NGC 281, LBN 616, SH 2-184 Common Name: Pac-Man Nebula Object Type: Emission Nebula and Cluster Magnitude: 7.4 Size: 38' x 35' Constellation: Cassiopeia Image Field Centered At: RA: 00h 52m 53s Dec: +56° 35' 14"