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Description

IC 63, often referred to as the Ghost of Cassiopeia, is a striking nebula located in the constellation Cassiopeia. This nebula is both an emission and reflection nebula, meaning it glows due to both the emission of light from ionized gas and the reflection of light from nearby stars. The nebula is being sculpted by the powerful ultraviolet radiation from the nearby blue-giant star Gamma Cassiopeiae, which causes the hydrogen gas within IC 63 to glow with a characteristic red light. The blue hues seen in the nebula are due to the reflection of Gamma Cassiopeiae's light off the dust particles within the nebula.