                        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.

                              2024 December 17
    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: Jeff Horne & Drew Evans

   Explanation: What excites the Heart Nebula? First, the large emission
   nebula on the upper left, catalogued as IC 1805, looks somewhat like a
   human heart. The nebula glows brightly in red light emitted by its most
   prominent element, hydrogen, but this long-exposure image was also
   blended with light emitted by sulfur (yellow) and oxygen (blue). 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 atom-exciting energetic light and winds. The Heart Nebula is
   located about 7,500 light years away toward the constellation of
   Cassiopeia. This wide field image shows much more, though, including
   the Fishhead Nebula just below the Heart, a supernova remnant on the
   lower left, and three planetary nebulas on the image right. Taken over
   57 nights, this image is so deep, though, that it clearly shows fainter
   long and complex filaments.

                     Tomorrow's picture: twisted galaxy
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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply.
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