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Credit & Copyright: Ivan Eder  
  
   
  
Explanation:
Cosmic clouds form  
fantastic shapes in  
the central regions of emission nebula IC 1805.  
  
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 toward the right in this  
colorful  
skyscape, along with dark  
dust clouds in  
silhouette against glowing atomic gas.  
  
A composite of narrowband and broadband telescopic images, the  
view spans about 30 light-years and includes emission  
from ionized hydrogen, sulfur, and oxygen atoms mapped to  
green, red, and blue hues  
in the popular Hubble Palette.  
  
Wider field images  
reveal that IC 1805's simpler,  
overall outline suggests its popular name -  
The  
Heart Nebula.  
  
IC 1805 is located about 7,500 light years away toward the  
boastful constellation Cassiopeia.  
  
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
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: emission nebula - star formation
Publications with words: emission nebula - star formation
See also:
- APOD: 2025 September 19 Á The NGC 6914 Complex
 - APOD: 2025 September 10 Á The Great Lacerta Nebula
 - APOD: 2025 July 21 Á Cats Paw Nebula from Webb Space Telescope
 - APOD: 2025 July 16 Á The Rosette Nebula from DECam
 - APOD: 2025 July 10 Á Lynds Dark Nebula 1251
 - APOD: 2025 July 5 Á Ou4: The Giant Squid Nebula
 - APOD: 2025 June 26 Á The Seagull Nebula
 

