The Heart Nebula (IC 1805) is a vibrant emission nebula located in the Perseus Arm of the Milky Way, approximately 7,500 light-years away in the constellation Cassiopeia. Its characteristic heart-like shape is sculpted by intense stellar winds and radiation from young, massive stars in the central open star cluster, Melotte 15. The nebula is rich in hydrogen gas and dust, glowing red due to ionized hydrogen (H-alpha emission), making it a popular target for astrophotography.
-
heartnebula1