AAPOD2 Image Archives
The Spider and The Fly
In the cosmic theater of the Milky Way, the enigmatic duo of the Spider and The Fly Nebula emerges as a captivating celestial narrative. This intriguing region, formally designated IC 417 and IC 416, showcases a complex interplay of dust and gas in the constellation Auriga. The Spider Nebula, IC 417, takes its name from the intricate web-like structure of dark dust lanes that spans the nebula, while its companion, The Fly Nebula (IC 416), adds to the cosmic drama. These stellar nurseries, situated approximately 10,000 light-years away, bear witness to the birth of new stars within their dense clouds of hydrogen gas. The delicate hues emanating from the nebulae, painted by the energetic radiation of newborn stars, infuse the scene with an ethereal glow.