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Астронет: Астрономическая картинка дня Туманности Сердце и Душа http://www.variable-stars.ru/db/msg/1880633/eng |
Credit & Copyright: Juan Lozano de Haro
Explanation:
Is the heart and soul of our Galaxy located in
Cassiopeia?
Possibly not, but that is where two bright
emission nebulas nicknamed
Heart and Soul
can be found.
The Heart Nebula, officially dubbed
IC 1805 and visible in the featured
image on the upper right, has a shape reminiscent of a classical
heart symbol.
The shape is perhaps fitting for
Valentine's Day.
The
Soul Nebula
is officially designated IC 1871 and is visible on the lower left.
Both nebulas shine brightly in the red light of
energized
hydrogen, one of three
colors shown in
this three-color montage.
Light takes about 6,000 years to reach us from
these nebulas,
which together span roughly 300
light years.
Studies of stars and clusters like those found in the
Heart and
Soul nebulas
have focused on how massive
stars form and how they
affect their environment.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.