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Credit & Copyright: Jimmy Walker
Explanation:
Cosmic clouds seem to form
fantastic shapes in
the central regions of emission nebula IC 1805.
Of course, the clouds are sculpted
by stellar winds and radiation from massive hot stars in the nebula's
newborn star cluster,
Melotte 15.
About 1.5 million years young,
the cluster stars are near the center of this colorful
skyscape,
along with dark dust clouds in
silhouette.
Dominated by emission from
atomic hydrogen,
the telescopic view
spans about 30 light-years.
But wider field images
reveal that IC 1805's simpler,
overall outline suggests its popular name -
The
Heart Nebula.
IC 1805 is located along the northern Milky Way, about 7,500 light years
distant toward the constellation
Cassiopeia.
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NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: Heart Nebula
Publications with words: Heart Nebula
See also: