                        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 September 17
    A starfield is shown with a a bright orange nebula in the center. The
   nebula is filamentary and takes up much of the bottom and middle of the
     frame. The top is most dark with some bright stars. Please see the
                 explanation for more detailed information.

                       Melotte 15 in the Heart Nebula
                  Image Credit & Copyright: Richard McInnis

   Explanation: Cosmic clouds form fantastic shapes in the central regions
   of emission nebula IC 1805. The clouds are sculpted by stellar winds
   and radiation from massive hot stars in the nebula's newborn star
   cluster, Melotte 15. About 1.5 million years young, the cluster stars
   are scattered in this colorful skyscape, along with dark dust clouds in
   silhouette against glowing atomic gas. A composite of narrowband and
   broadband telescopic images, the view spans about 15 light-years and
   includes emission from ionized hydrogen, sulfur, and oxygen atoms
   mapped to green, red, and blue hues in the popular Hubble Palette.
   Wider field images reveal that IC 1805's simpler, overall outline
   suggests its popular name - the Heart Nebula. IC 1805 is located about
   7,500 light years away toward the boastful constellation Cassiopeia.

                    Tomorrow's picture: supernova surfer
     __________________________________________________________________

       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply.
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