Sprawling across almost 200 light-years, emission nebula IC 1805 is a mix of glowing interstellar gas and dark dust clouds. Derived from its Valentine's-Day-approved shape, its nickname is the Heart Nebula. About 7,500 light-years away in the Perseus spiral arm of our galaxy, stars were born in IC 1805. In fact, near the cosmic heart's center are the massive hot stars of a newborn star cluster also known as Melotte 15, about 1.5 million years young.

Imaging Data

Date: 11-(20-21-22)-2014

Location : Sudbury, Massachusetts

Optics : Televue 85 Apochromatic Refractor @f/7

Filter(s) : Astronomik CLS-CCD

Mount : Astrophysics Mach1-GTO

Autoguiding : PHD2 with Costar Guider

Camera : Canon EOS T3i Full Spectrum

Exposure info : 56 x 600 second Exposures @ISO 1600

Total Exposure : 9.33 hours