IC 405, the Flaming Star Nebula, is an emission nebula about 5 light years in diameter, and illuminated by the bright star AE Aurigae. The surrounding gas is excited by the star's radiation, and glows red, but some light is merely reflected by the surrounding gas and shines with a blue colour. This image, however, is a composite of three images taken through filters : red = ionised sulphur (672.4nm), green = hydrogen alpha (656.3nm), and blue = ionised oxygen (500.7nm).