Astronomy Picture of the Day [1]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. 2024 December 17 [2]A wide star field is shown with several nebulae as identified by the rollover image. On the upper left is a large nebula named the Heart Nebula. Please see the explanation for more detailed information. Near to the Heart Nebula Image Credit & Copyright: [3]Jeff Horne & [4]Drew Evans Explanation: What excites the Heart Nebula? First, the large [5]emission nebula on the upper left, catalogued as [6]IC 1805, looks somewhat like a [7]human heart. The nebula glows brightly in red light emitted by its [8]most prominent element, [9]hydrogen, but this long-exposure image was also blended with light emitted by sulfur (yellow) and oxygen (blue). In the [10]center of the Heart Nebula are young stars from the open star cluster [11]Melotte 15 that are eroding away several picturesque [12]dust pillars with their atom-exciting [13]energetic light and winds. The [14]Heart Nebula is located about 7,500 [15]light years away toward the [16]constellation of [17]Cassiopeia. This [18]wide field image shows much more, though, including the [19]Fishhead Nebula just below the Heart, a [20]supernova remnant on the lower left, and three [21]planetary nebulas on the image right. Taken over 57 nights, [22]this image is so deep, though, that it clearly shows fainter long and complex filaments. Tomorrow's picture: twisted galaxy __________________________________________________________________ [23]< | [24]Archive | [25]Submissions | [26]Index | [27]Search | [28]Calendar | [29]RSS | [30]Education | [31]About APOD | [32]Discuss | [33]> __________________________________________________________________ Authors & editors: [34]Robert Nemiroff ([35]MTU) & [36]Jerry Bonnell ([37]UMCP) NASA Official: Amber Straughn [38]Specific rights apply. [39]NASA Web Privacy, [40]Accessibility, [41]Notices; A service of: [42]ASD at [43]NASA / [44]GSFC, [45]NASA Science Activation & [46]Michigan Tech. U. References 1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html 2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2412/Heart_HorneEvans_4096.jpg 3. https://www.instagram.com/jeffreyhorne 4. https://www.instagram.com/drewjevans 5. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/emission_nebulae.html 6. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap040917.html 7. https://youtu.be/xWkeidr2T8o?t=26 8. https://i.pinimg.com/originals/d3/5d/63/d35d632b0161e3169f7f4dd3c17c8e36.jpg 9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen 10. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap180214.html 11. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap131227.html 12. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap241022.html 13. https://science.nasa.gov/ems/10_ultravioletwaves 14. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap031022.html 15. http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/questions/question19.html 16. https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/constellations/en/ 17. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassiopeia_(constellation) 18. https://www.instagram.com/p/DC1wDJZvRO8/ 19. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap240501.html 20. https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/objects/snrs/snrstext.html 21. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planetary_nebula 22. https://www.instagram.com/p/DC1wDJZvRO8/ 23. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap241216.html 24. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html 25. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html 26. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html 27. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search 28. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html 29. https://apod.com/feed.rss 30. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html 31. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html 32. https://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=241217 33. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap241218.html 34. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html 35. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/ 36. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html 37. http://www.astro.umd.edu/ 38. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply 39. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html 40. https://www.nasa.gov/general/accessibility/ 41. https://www.nasa.gov/privacy/ 42. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/ 43. https://www.nasa.gov/ 44. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/ 45. https://science.nasa.gov/learners 46. http://www.mtu.edu/