John Martin Schäeberle discovered IC 405 photographically on 21 Mar 1892 using the Willard lens strapped to the 6-inch Clark refractor at Lick Observatory. An announcement ("A Large New Nebula in Auriga") and description was given in PASP, Vol 4, No. 22. Max Wolf also photographed it on 25 Sep 1892 (AN 131 [3130], 159) and in 1903 reported this nebula "looks like a burning body from which several enormous curved flames seem to break out like gigantic prominences". He urged his colleagues to aim their spectroscopes at this "flaming star" - hence the name "Flaming Star Nebula".

300/350mm - 13.1" (12/7/85): very low surface brightness haze at 62x using an H-beta filter, though nebulosity seen to 15' diameter and extending generally to the north and northeast of AE Aurigae.

13.1" (1/18/85): nebulosity highly suspected on east side of AE Aurigae.

400/500mm - 17.5" (2/8/86): the "Flaming Star" nebula is a very faint, large, diffuse nebulosity extending mainly north of AE Aurigae without filter. Enhanced with an H-beta filter.

Notes by Steve Gottlieb