IC 1805 – Heart Nebula

IC 1805

Heart Nebula

What energizes the Heart Nebula?

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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 open cluster of stars contains a few bright stars nearly 50 times the mass of our Sun, many dim stars only a fraction of the mass of our Sun, and an absent microquasar that was expelled millions of years ago. The Heart Nebula is located about 7,500 light years away toward the constellation of Cassiopeia. At the bottom right is the companion Fishhead Nebula.

Heart Nebula in Cassiopeia

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Technical card

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ObjectIC 1805
Imaging telescopeCelestron Rowe-Ackermann Schmidt Astrograph 8″
Imaging cameraZWO ASI 1600MM PRO
Mount iOptron CEM60
GuidingGuidescope 240mm, ZWO ASI 120MM
FilterBaader f/2 Highspeed H-Alpha, Baader f/2 Highspeed OIII, Baader f/2 Highspeed SII (each 2″)
AccessoriesStarizona Filter Slider,  Celestron Focus Motor for SCT
Integration40.1 hours, H-Alpha: 629×100″, OIII: 430×100″, SII: 385×100″
Dates of recording11 nights in September / October 2019
AstroBinLink

IC 1805 PRINT & RAW DATA

Now available for purchase in 3 different sizes. Premium Fuji Crystal prints with a gloss finish. Fuji C-Type paper guarantees excellent detail, contrast and color accuracy.

Download of the fully calibrated data set now available!

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