What is the heart and soul in Cassiopeia?

The Soul Nebula (Westerhout 5) is an emission nebula located in the constellation Cassiopeia. It forms a famous pair known as the Heart and Soul with the neighbouring Heart Nebula (IC 1805).

What happens at the heart of a nebula?

The red glow and the larger shape are all created by a small group of stars near the nebula’s center. In the heart of the Heart Nebula are young stars from the open star cluster Melotte 15 that are eroding away several picturesque dust pillars with their energetic light and winds.

Is Heart Nebula visible?

The nebulae form a large star-forming complex in the Perseus Arm of the Milky Way. The clusters found in the region belong to the Cas OB6 association. The Heart and Soul region is barely visible in small telescopes and best seen photographically. It is a popular target for astrophotographers.

What is the heart and Soul Nebula?

Located about 6,000 light-years from Earth, the Heart and Soul nebulae form a vast star-forming complex that makes up part of the Perseus spiral arm of our Milky Way galaxy. The nebula to the right is the Heart, designated IC 1805 and named after its resemblance to a human heart.

Where is the Heart Nebula in Cassiopeia?

RA 2h 33m 22s | Dec +61° 26′ 36″Heart Nebula / Coordinates

Why is the Heart Nebula Red?

The beautiful Heart Nebula, also known as IC 1805, is a bright, red emission nebula with a shape that resembles a human heart. This cosmic cloud glows red because it’s filled with ionized hydrogen gas. Darker lanes of interstellar dust create a dark silhouette in the center of the luminous, heart-shaped outline.

Can you see the Heart Nebula with a telescope?

Because of its size, the Heart Nebula is best photographed using a small telescope (480mm or smaller) so that you can fit the entire object in your frame. With an even wider instrument (or a DSLR camera lens), you might also be able to include its neighbor, the Soul Nebula.

How far away is the Heart Nebula?

7,500 light yearsHeart Nebula / Distance to Earth

The Heart Nebula (also known as the Running dog nebula), IC 1805, Sharpless 2-190, is some 7500 light years away from Earth and is located in the Perseus Arm of the Galaxy in the constellation Cassiopeia.