APOD
Astronomy Picture of the Day
Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.
The Heart and Soul Nebulas
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 .
| Date | February 14, 2023 |
|---|---|
| Credit | Image Credit & Copyright: Juan Lozano de Haro |
| Authors & editors: | Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP) |
| A service of: |
ASD at NASA / GSFC, NASA Science Activation & Michigan Tech. U. |