16.11.16

Astronomy picture of the day - 2016 November 16 - The Heart and Soul Nebulas

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The Heart and Soul Nebulas 
Image Credit & Copyright: David Lindemann
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 right, has a shape reminiscent of a classical heart symbol. Both nebulas shine brightly in the red light of energized hydrogen. Several young open clusters of stars populate the image and are visible here in blue, including the nebula centers. Light takes about 6,000 years to reach us from these nebulas, which together span roughly 300 light yearsStudies of stars and clusters like those found in the Heart and Soul Nebulas have focused on howmassive stars form and how they affect their environment.

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