IC 1805 & HB3 – Mosaic of the Heart Nebula

First, the large emission nebula dubbed IC 1805 looks, in whole, like a human heart. The nebula glows brightly in red light emitted by its most prominent element: hydrogen. The red glow and the larger shape are all powered by a small group of stars near the nebula’s center. In the center
of the Heart Nebula are young stars from the open star cluster Melotte 15 that are eroding away several picturesque dust pillars with their energetic light and winds. The Heart Nebula is located about 7,500 light years away toward the constellation of Cassiopeia. At the bottom right is HB3,
a faint supernova remnant located nearby that is the result of a massive star’s explosion, which expelled its outer layers into space. This remnant has an elongated, irregular shape and is characterized by diffuse, low surface brightness, making it less conspicuous than some other nebulae.